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3_r_Will4_ 



fearbartr €aUtst libracn 



CHARLES JACKSON 

(CUu of iSg») 

OF BOSTON' 

KOR ENGLISH HISTORY AND 
LITERATURE 



1 



i 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES 



SECOND SERIES 



VOL VIII. 



July, 1906, to June, 1907 



JOHN BULLOCH 

EDITOR 



ABERDEEN 

THE ROSEMOUNT PRESS 

1907 



Br Hf^JO 




4 




SECOND SERIES. 



INDEX TO EIGHTH VOLUME. 



" A Guid New Year to Ane an' A*," no 

" A Happy English Child," loo 

Abell, John, i68 

Abercromby or Abercrombie, Patrick, ii8 

Abercromby, David, M.D., ii8 

Aberdeen- American Graduates, 55, 84, 145 

Aberdeen, Arms of the City, 90, 109 

Aberdeen Bibliography, Addenda to "Aberdeen 

Printers," 125 
Aberdeen Independent^ 98 
Aberdeen and Inverness Mail Arrangements of 

1822, 154 
Aberdeen New Independent ^ or Literary and Political 

Repository, 98 
Aberdeen, Old Seal of, 62 
Aberdeen Painters, 15 
Aberdeen Tatler, 123 
Aberdeen University, Quatercentenary Publications, 

33 
Aberdeen Waterman — A ** Trail," 154 

Aberdeen, The Wells of, 87 

Aberdonians Abroad : Henry Farquharson, 89, 103 

Aberfoyle, Two Epitaphs at, 57 

Adam, John, 119 

Adamson, Archibald R., 119 

Adie, Charles, D.D., 119 

Adie, James, 1 19 

Advertiser f 166 

Agnew, Peter, 3 

Aikenhead, James, 138 

Aikman, William, X19, 172, 191 

Airth, James, 119 

Aitken, Edith, 91, in, 174 

Aitken, Sir William, M.D., LL.D., 119 

Alba, on Adam Donald, 28, 142 

Adam King, 39 

^— - A Glasgow Book, 28 



Alba, *« A Happy English Child," 100 

Alexander J. Warden, 45, 118 

Alexander Whitelaw, 76 

Andrew Bisset, 141 

Anecdote of Napoleon, 26 

Anthony Dunlop, 71 

Buchanan Hospital, 14 

Butler's Lobster Simile, 136 

Captain Congalton, 67 

*» Crawdoun,*' 28 

D. M. Peter, 71 

David Lindsay, 92 

Drumquhassill, 141 

— - Edith Aitken, 91 

Eliza Inverarity, 65, 104 

George Blair, M.A., 29 

Gilbert Blackball, S.J., 54 

Gilbert M. Gibson, 172 

** Hail Smiling Morn," 143 

Henry ^hanks, 45 

Inedited Poems by Leyden, 21 

Irishmen with Norman Names, 102 

J. M. Logan, 172 

James Clyde, LL.D., 28, 131 

James Sinclair, Arboriculturist, 152 

John Abell, 168 

John Grant of Glengairn, 3 

John Heiton, 62 

Lawrences in Australia, 168 

Lawrence Cockburn, 91 

Madeline Smith, 115 

Marshal Keith, 23 

Moses Provan, 29, 142 

Neil M*Alpine, 29 

Old Parr, 153 

Patrick Ged, M.D., 68 

Peter Agnew, 3 

Peter Paterson, 45 

Ranald Rankin, 3 



IV. 



INDEX 



Alba, Rats and Grapes, 97 

Rev. William Leask, 26 

" Rose Douglas," 140 

** Rosy-fingered Morn," 6 

** Sawney Beane," loi 

Scotch Church, Erfurt, 74 

" Scoto-Brittanicus," 140 

Scottish Poets, 148 

Simeon Grahame, 68 

Sir Hugh Halcrow, 28 

Some Galloway Macs, 27 

" Standard Habbie," 157 

The Clan Maclean, 42 

•* The Silver Eel," 29 

"The Spy," 8 

The Stark Family, 6 

The Surname Brodie, 46 

Surtees Ballad Frauds, 86 

" Thole and Think on," 45 

William Mackay, 13 

Alexander, Alexander Crichton (Rev.)f 120 
Alexander, Charles, 120 
Alexander Family, 85 
Alexander, Rev. Thomas, 186 
Alexander, Thomas (Rev.), 145 
Aliquis, on Sir Hugh Halcrow, 63 

The Gordons of Carroll, 158 

Alison, John, 120 

Allan, Archibald, 120 

Allan, Daniel (Rev.), 55, 145 

Allan, James, 120 

Allan, James Steel, 120 

Allan, Robert R., 120 

Allan, Thomas R., 137 

Allan, William, 137 

Allan, Sir William, M.P., 137 

Allardyce, John, 137 

Amateur, on Hutton, Hepburn, Lidderdale, 31 

Ancient Grave, 182 

Anderson, Alexander, M.D., 138 

Anderson, Alexander (Rev.), 137 

Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire, 141, 174 

Anderson, Joseph, LL.D., 137 

Anderson, James, 137 

Anderson, James (Rev.), 55, 137 

Anderson, John, 137 

Andersons of Mounie, 8 

Andersons of Mudhouse, 54 

Anderson, P. J., on Aberdeen Bibliography, Addenda 

to "Aberdeen Printers," 125 

Aberdonians Abroad : Henry Farquharson, 89 

Royal Visits to Aberdeen, Address to Charles 

H., 25 
The Wells of Aberdeen, 87 



Anderson, William, 138 

Anderson, William, Hon., J. P., 138 

Angus, Alexander, 138 

Angus, James, 138 

Angus, WiUiam Cargill, 138 

Annan, Robert, 138 

Anthology, English County, 94, 173 

Arbuthnot, Alexander, 139, 149 

Archangel, Father, 97 



Archer, David Wallace, 139 

Archer, William, 139 

Argyleshire, Notable Men and Women of, 4 

Arnott, Neil, M.D., 139 

Arrott, David, M.D., 139 

Auchterlonie, Douglas K. (Rev.), 139 

B 

B., on Gordon House, Kentish Town, 174 

B., D., on Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire, 174 

Balfour, Alex., 139 

Balfour, Charles, 139 

Balfour, Edward Green, M.D., 140 

Balfour, Robert, 146 

Balfour, Sir George, M. P. , 140 

Balfour, William Douglas, 146 

Balfour, William Lawson, 146 

Ballad on the Battle of Bannockburn, 15 

Balmyle or Balmule, Nicholas de, 187 

Bannatyne, George, 146 

Bannatyne, James, T47 

Bannatyne, Thomas, Lord Newtyle, 147 

Barclay, David, 147 

Barclay, John (Rev.), 55 

Barclay, Robert, 147, 162 

Barclay of Urie, 129, 142 

Barclay, William, 147 

Barrie, James Matthew, LL.D., 162 

Barry, P., 162 

Barty, James Strachan, D.D., 162 

Battles of Preston, Falkirk, and CuUoden 10 

Baxter, David (Sir), 163 

Baxter, Edmund, 163 

Baxter, Edward, 163 

Baxter, Francis Willoughby, 163 

Baxter, John Boyd, LL.D., 163 

Baxter, William Edward (Rt Hon., M.P., P.C.). 16^ 

Bean, Margaret, 163 / o 

Beattie, David Alexander, 186 

Begg, Peter, 186 

**Beinn lutharn Mhor," and "Beag," Oricxin of 

Names, 62, 80 ** 

Bell, Patrick, LL.D., 186 
Bennett, David, 187 
Bernardus Paludanus, 29 
" Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush," no 
Bethune, Dr. George Washington, no, 127 leg 
Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals, 8. 08 12^ t-^c 

188, 189 ^ •^-'a. 125. 

Bibliography of Clan Literature, 183 

Bibliography of Edinburgh Periodical Literature 

10, 35, 72, 107, 121, 150, 166, 179 
Bibliography of Montrose Periodical Literature 77 
Bibliography of Perth, 164 * '' 

Bibliography of Works on Stewart and Stuart 

ramiltes, 113, 171 
Birrell, Mary, 187 
Birrell, W. M. Dundas, 187 
Birse, David, 187 
Bisset, Andrew, 141, 175 
Bissett, Thomas, 187 
Black, David DsUcers, 187 



< 



INDEX 



V. 



Black, James, 187 

Blackhall, Gilbert, S.J., 54 

Blackwood's Magazine ^ 127, 142 

Blair, David, J. P., 187 

Blair, George, M.A., 29, 47, 64, 79 

Blair, Patrick, M.D., 187 

Blyth, David, 188 

Bodie, The Name, 94 

Boece or Boyce, Hector, 188 

Boece or Boyce, Arthur, 188 

Bon- Accord Buyer^s Guide: Aberdeen's Monthly 

Magazine ^ 123, 188 
** Bonnie Dundee," Parody of, 14, 29 
Bonnington, 192 

Bonnington, The Place-name, 173 
Bonnington, Woods of, 53 
Border Haswells, 14 
" Borderer," on Dippie Family, 173 
Borestone, The, a ** Boar Stone," 22 
Boyd, William, D.D., 5 
Bremner, George St. J., on Another ** Wicked " 

Bible, 182 

on Butler's ** Lobster" Simile, 183 

on Scottish Poets, 178 

Brichan, J. (Rev.), Botanist, 13, 31 

Bridge of Balgownie, 173 

Brodie and Hoare Families, 57 

Brodie, Michie, and Gauld Families, 59, 66, 161 

Brodie, The Surname, 46 

Brodies, Lawrances, and Murdochs in 1745, 103 

Brompton Oratory Design, 78, 96 

" Brown's Deeside Guide," 22 

Brown, Provost, of Aberdeen, 30 

Brown, Provost, of Aberdeen, and the Edinburgh 

Weekly youmal, 16 
Buchan Farm, Rhynie, 131 
Buchanan Hospital, 14, 47 
B., J. M., on An Act Naturalizing a Gordon, 23 

Adam Gordon, Navy Surgeon, 126 

Alexander Family, 85 

Alexander Gordon of Carnousie, 143 

Alexander Gordon, Executed at Brest, 102 

Cabrach Gordons, 21 

Captain George Gordon, R.N., 126 

Captain William Gordon, Minmore, 172 

Chaplain Gordon of Verdun, 173 

Fetterangus, 78 

— • — George Gordon, 8th West India Regiment, 172 

Gordon- Anderson Marriage, 126 

Gordon House Academy, Kentish Town, 

London, 91 

Gordon of Kildrummy, 13 

Huntly in Bombay, 158 

John Gordon, Schoolmaster, Belhelvie, 13 

Joseph Gordon, 142 

Lieut. George Gordon, 92nd Highlanders, 172 

— Longmore Family, 126 

Miss Gordon, Ruby Cottage, 157 

Mr. Sheriff Gordon, 172 

Mrs. Gordon of Craig, no 

Priest Gordon, 62 

Robert Gordon of Xeres de la Frontera, 92 

Rev. William Duncan, 13 



B., J. M., Scots Episcopacy, 157 

Sir Cosmo Gordon, 126 

The Cummings of Culter, 157 

Brompton Oratory Design, 78 

The First Gordons of Ellon, 164 

The Inglis Family, 126 

Thomas Duncan Gordon, 172 

Burke's '* Landed Gentry," 62, 80 

Burnet Bursaries of Aberdeen, 109 

Burnett, James, 147 

Burns' Daughter, Gift to, 71 

Butler's Lobster Simile, 136 

Byron and the Plains of Marathon, 77, 95 



C, W. J. on A Scots Review^ 78 

on the Murder of Two Sons of Gordon of 

Ellon, 78 

Provost Brown of Aberdeen, 30 

Cabrach, Character of, 85 

Caddell, alias MacPherson, 126, 159, 190 

Caledonicui Gazetteer, 179 

Caledonian Mercury , 72, 107 

Campbell, Peter Colin, D.D., 57 

Cant Family, 24, 58, 67, 125 

Cardno Family, 140, 174, 190 

Caw, George, Printer, Hawick, 92, in 

Challenge Bugle, Sir James Horn Burnett's, 95 

Challenge, Burgh, Sir James Horn Burnett's, 77 

Chameleon t 188 

Chappie, on Andrew Bisset, 175 

Moses Provan, 48 

Cheyne, George. (Rev.), 146 

Christian Monthly History, 121 

Church Tokens, 34 

Citizen, 122 

Clark, Daniel (Rev.), 55, 145 

Clan Maclean, 79 

Clericus, on Curious Figures on a Tombstone, 47 

Tinder Boxes in Church, 157 

Clyde, James, LL.D., 63, 79, 131, 28 

** Cockabendy," The Words of, 173 

Cockburn Lawrence, 91 

Cockburn, H. A., on Jardine, Rannie, Dundas, 126 

Cockburnspath, 13, 31 

Colvile, Robert, 15 

Congalton, Captain, 67 

Connell, Alexander (Rev.), B.D., 5 

Corson, Cone, on The Lords Forbes, and the 

'* Bush of Kaitness," 79 

Two, Aberfoyle Epitaphs, 57 

Couper, Sydney C, on Origin of Names, "Beinn 

lutharn Mhor," and '* Beag," 62 
Couper, W. J., on Bibliography of Edinburgh 

Periodical Literature, 10, 35, 72, 107, 121, 

150, 166, 181 
** Coxswain, Johnnie," 92, in 
Cramond, W., LL.D., on a Forgotten Tragedy in 

Gamrie, 169 

Publications by the late, 154 

" Crawdoun," 28 

Cruden, Author of the Concordance, 173, 192 



VI. 



INDEX 



Cudbear, 26 

Cummings of Culter, 157, 191 

Curious Figures on a Tombstone, 14, 47 

D 

D., J., on Aberdeen American-Graduates, 84 

Dean, The (or Den), 192 

Dean, The Place Name, 173 

Dippie Family, 173 

Donald, Adam, 28, 471 63, 142 

Dorian Way, The, 186 

Drum used at Harlaw, 157 

Drumquhassill, 141, 159 

Duflf Family, 127, 144 

Dunbar, Mariota, 15 

Duncan, William (Rev.), 13 

Dunlop, Anthony, 71 



Ed., on " Parody of Bonnie Dundee," 14 

Edinburgh Advertiser ^ 150 

Edinburgh Evening Courant, 35 

Edinburgh Gazette or Scots Postman^ 10 

Edinburgh Magazine ^ 121 

Edinburgh Repository, 179 

Edinburgh Town Council Minutes, Extracts from, 

164 
Erfurt, Scotch Church, 74 
•* Esconse," the word, 78, 96 
Evan Odd, on Alexander Arbuthnot, 149 

Blackwood's Magazine, 127 

Extracts from Edinburgh Town Council 

Minutes, 164 

Moses Pro van, 48, 64 

The Birthplace of George Ridpath, 100 



F., J., on Aberdonians Abroad, Henry Farquharson, 

103 

on John Grant of Glengairn, 3 

Farquhar, William (Author), 46 

Farquhars in Longside, Aberdeenshire, 45 

Farquharson, Henry, 124 

Ferguson, William, on the Name McKelvie, 62 

Ferguson, William. Rev., 146 

Fetterangus, 78, 96 

Fife Pictures, 164 

Folk- Lore of Baptism, 61 

Forbes Family, 53 

Forbes Letter, A, i 

Forbes of Pitsligo, The Heir Male of the Lords, 104 

Forbes, The Lords, and the " Bush of Kaitness," 79 

Forfarshire, 71, 88 

Forfisirshire as a Factor in Scottish Life and Thought, 

17, 41, 50, 69, 81, 88, 99, 105 
Forfarshire, Notable Men and Women of, 118, 137, 

146 
Foxes Eating Fruit, i 
Freeholder and The Weekly Packet, 11 
Freemasonry Terms, ^9 
Frost, W., J., on Cockburnspath, 13 



G 

G., M., on Latervandeck, 189 

on Caddell, alias MacPherson, 190 

Gale, Alexander (Rev.), 145 

Gait Family, 148 

Gammack, James, LL.D., on Aberdeen- American 

Graduates, 55, 145 

Dr. George Washington Bethune, 158 

George Blair, M.A., 47 

Lunan Families, 174 

Scottish Saints and Kalendars, 149 

Gamrie, Forgotten Tragedy in, 169 

Garden, Wm., M.A., 178 

Ged, Patrick, M.A., 68 

Gentlenun aud Ladies'' Weekly Magazine , 179 

Geological Note, 136 

Gibson, Gilbert M., 172 

Glasgow, 64 

Glasgow Bank, A, 28 

Glencoe Massacre Relic, 133 

Gordon, Act Naturalizing a, 23 

Gordon, Adam, Navy Surgeon, 126 

Gordon, Alexander of Carnousie, 126, 143 

Gordon, Alexander, Executed at Brest, 102 

Gordon, Alexander Sinclair, Volunteer Enthusiast, 85 

Gordon, Anderson, Marriage, 126, 159 

Gordon as a Place- Name in London, 153 

Gordons of Auchinreath, 124 

Gordon, Barbara (Mrs. Farquhar), 47 

Gordon Book Plates, 40 

Gordons, Cabrach, 21 

Gordon, Captain George, R.N., 126, 158. 

Gordon, Captain George, R.N., of Greenhaugh, 174 

Gordon, Captain William, Minmore, 172 

Gordons of Carroll, no, 158 

Gordon of Craig, Mrs., 158 . 

Gordon of Ellon, Murder of his Two Sons, 53, 78, 

96 
Gordon, Garmouth, 93 

Gordon, George, Lieutenant, 92nd Highlanders, 172 
Gordon, George, 8th West India Regiment, 172 
Gordon, Henry (Rev.), 55, 145 
Gordon House Academy, Kentish Town, London, 

91, no, 173 
Gordon, Joseph, 142 

Gordon, John, Schoolmaster, Belhelvie, 13 
Gordon, Joseph, 175 
Gordon of Kildrummy, 13 
Gordons of Manar, 189 
Gordons of Minmore, 85 
Gordon, Miss, Ruby Cottage, 157, 175, 191 
Gordon, Mr. Sheriff, 172 
Gordon, Mrs., of Craig, no 
Gordon, Priest, 63, 80 

Gordon, Robert, of Xeres de la Frontera, 92, in 
Gordon, Sir Cosmo, 126, 158 
Gordon, Sir J. Willoughby, 163 
Gordons, The First of Ellon, 164 
Gordon, Thomas Duncan, 172 
Gordon of Verdun, Chaplain, 173 
Gordon's College Former Pupils* Association, 123 
Grace before Meat, 28, 63 



:^.V. 



INDEX 



vi>. 



Grahame, Simeon, 68 

Grammar Schools, 12, 30 

Grants oi Auchannachy, 92 

Grant, Dr. Peter, 142, 175 

Grant, Forsyth (Lieutenant), 31 

Grant, James, on Alexander Gordon of Carnousie, 

143 
Grant, James, on Duff Family, 144 

Grant, John, of Glengairn, 3 

Grant, M., on Dr. Peter Grant, 142 

Grant, Patrick, Lord Elchies, 142, 175, 190 

Grants of Auchannachy, iii 

Gray, Family of, 150 

H 

H. , G. , on Patrick Grant, Lord Elchies, 175 

on the Cummings of Cult^r, 191 

on Scots Episcopacy, 191 

H., J., on Dr. Peter Grant, 175 

on Huntly in Bombay, 191 

Haigs of Bemersyde, 12, 46, 63 
•* Hail Smiling Morn," 143 
Halcrovv, Sir Hugh, 28, 63 

Harvey, William, on ** A Guid New Year to Ane an' 
A*," no 

" Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush," no 

Dr, George Bethune, 110 

Hay of Monkton, 14 

Heiton, John, 62, 80 

Herald, James (Rev.), 145 

Herald, John (Rev.), 56 

Highland Independent Companies, The, no, 158 

Hill, Loudon, on Alexander Gordon of Carnousie, 126 

Hutton, Hepburn, Lidderdale, 13, 31, 47 

Huntly in Bombay, 191 

I 

Inglis Family, 126, 158 
Inglis, William Maxwell (Rev.), 56 
Inverarity, Eliza, 65, 104 
Irishmen with Norman Names, X02 



J., W., on Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals, 

189 
J., J., on Cardno Family, 174 
Jardine, Rannie, Dundas, 126, 159 
John's Coffee House, Edinburgh, 173, 192 
Journey from Edinburgh to London, 1757, 74 

K 

K., on The Name Keiller, 172 
Keiller, The Name, 172 
Keith, Marshal, 23 
King, Adam, 39 
Kirk, Jonet, 15 



L,a Norda Stela^ 99 

Lamb, J. J. W., on Still Room, 85 



Lamont, Norman, M.P., 5 
Lanark Lanimer Day, 14 
Latervandeck, 189 

Laundry Bill of the i8th Century, 76 
Law, George (Rev.), 55 
I Lawrance Family, Traditions Relating to, 84 
Lawrance and Lawrence Families in Aberdeenshire, 

1696, 116, 134 
Lawrances of Pitscow, Kininmonth, 78 
Lawrance Subscriber to James Fordyce's Hymns, 

no 
Lawrance's (Thomas) Mortification, 78 
Lawrances in Usan, 13, 47, 79 
Lawrence and Mackintosh Families, 158 
Lawrences in Australia, 168 
Leading Apes, 29 
Leask, William (Rev.), 26 
Leighton, J. F., on Forfarshire as a Factor in 

Scottish Life and Thought, 88, 99 
Leighton, J. E., on Wm. Aikman 
Leslie, Archibald, on Northern Fencibles, 84 
Leyden, Inedited Poems by, 21, 60, 77, 85 
Lindsay, David, 92, ni 
Lindsay's Record Time Tables, 188 
Linton, W. I., Origin of, 46 
Literature— A Jacobite Stronghold of the Church, 

by Mary E. Ingram, 112 
History of the Family of Cairnes or Cairns and 

its connections, by H. C. Lawlor, i6o 

Inverness in the Fifteenth Century, by Evan 

M. Barron, 16 
Mary Queen of Scots, with Pictures in Colour 

by James Orrock, R.I., and Sir James 

Linton, R.I. The Story by Walter Wood, 

128 
Official Guide to the Abbey-Church, Palace, 

and Environs of Holyroodhouse, by the 

Right Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, 32 
Parish of Cairnie, by Chief Constable James 

Pirie, 144 
Preliminary and Intermediate Arithmetic, by 

W. Stewart Thomson, M.A., 176 
Scottish Clans and their Tartans, with Notes, 

published by W. and A. K. Johnston, 16 
Scottish Heraldry, Books on, by Mr. G. Harvey 

Johnston, 32 

Sculptured Stone of Aberlemno, by John 

Milne, LL.D., 32 
Livingston, Sir James, 189 
Logan, J. M., 172 

Longmore Family, 126, 158, 174, 189 
Lunan Families, 141, 174 



M 

M., A., on '* Esconse," 78 

on Nineteen Years' Leases, 189 

Parish of Cairnie, 144 

William Aikman, 172 

M., A. M., Duff Family, 127, 144 

McKelvie or Mcllvain, 143 

Mackintoshes in Glenshee : McCombie Family, 7 



• •• 

Vlll. 



INDEX 



M., J., on The Murder of two sons of Gordon of 

Ellon, g6 
M., J. F., on Joseph Gordon, 175 

on Miss Gordon, Ruby Cottage, 191 

M., W. M., on Prince Charlie's Persian Horse, 93 
McG., J., on What is a ** Tap ** or " Tapion ? " 13 

on Patrick Grant, Lord Elchies, 190 

McW., H. D., on A Forbes Letter, i 

on Shank House, 189 

on Sir Alex. Ramsay, 189 

on Sir James Livingston, 189 

Caddell, alias MacPherson, 126 

Gordons of Auchinreath, 124 

John's Coffee House, Edinburgh, 173 

McPherson, alias McWillie, 46 

Macpherson Letters, 2, 75, 105, 165 

Professor John Stewart and his pupil William 

Grant, 49 

The Burnet Bursaries of Aberdeen, 109 

The Grants of Auchannachy, 92 

The Heir l\^ale of the Lords Forbes of Pitsligo, 

104 

The Highland Independent Companies, zzo 

The Name McKelvie, 127 

The Place-Name Bonnington, 173 

The Place- Name Dean, 173 

Mc Alpine, Neil, 29, 48 

McKelvie or Mcllvain, 143 

McKelvie, The Name, 62, 80, 127 

McKenzie, John (Rev.), 56 

McKay, Alexander (Rev.), 55 

McKid, Alexander (Rev.), 55, 145 

McNaughton, Peter (Rev.), 56 

Macphail, Myles, 182 

McPherson, Thomas (Rev.), 56, 145 

McPherson, alias McWillie, 46 

Mair, James (Rev.), 55 

Mann, Alexander (Rev.), 55 

Macdonald, A., on Bernardus Paludanus, 79 

MacDougall, Duncan (Rev.), 6 

MacDougall, John, 6 

Mackay, William, 13, 47 

Mackay, Y, 151 

Mackie Marriage, A, 126, 143 

Mackintoshes of Cammis, 7 

Mackintoshes of Dalmunzie, 7 

Mackintoshes in Glenshee : McCombie Family, 7 

Mackintoshes of the Tom or Thom, 7 

Maclean, The Clan, 45 

Macleay, Kenneth, R.S.A.,6 

MacLeod, W., on Drumquhassill, 159 

Macpherson Letters, 2, 75, 105, 165 

Macs, Some Galloway, 27 

Mann, Alexander (Rev.), 145 

Marischal College Beliry, 177 

Masson, William (Rev.), 55, 145 

Mercer, General Hugh, 140 

Michie, Charles, on Brodie, Michie, and Gauld 

Families, 161 
Millar, A. H., on A. J. Warden, 64 
Milne, John, LL.D., on Aberdeen Arms, 109 

Aberdeen Waterman, a "Trail," 154 

Ancient Grave, 182 



Milne, John, LL.D., on Arms of the City of Aber- 
deen, 90 

Cruden, Author of the Concordance, 173 

Curious Figures on a Tombstone, 14 

Foxes Eating Fruit, i 

Geological Note, 136 

Musical Terms— " Treble," " Bimull-Clieff,** 

141, 160 

Old Seal of Aberdeen, 62 

The Bridge of Balgownie, 173 

The Murder of Two Sons of Gordon of Ellon, 53 

The Still Room, 45, no 

Y Mackay, 151 

Freemasonry Terms, 39 

on Cardno Family, 190 

on The Dorian Way, 186 

Mirror^ 180 

Mitchell-Gill, A. J.,, on Miss Gordon of Ruby 
Cottage, 175 

Moncrief, John, of Tippermalloch, 172 

Murdoch, James, Author, 29, 48, 1 10 

Murdoch, Robert, on A Buchan Farm Rhyme, 131 

on Bibliography of Clan Literature, 183 

on English County Anthology, 189 

on Longmore Family, 189 

Aberdeen and Inverness Mail Arrangements of 

1822, 154 

Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals, 98 

Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals : Reports, 

8, 123 

Bibliography of Montrose Periodical Literature, 

77 
A Bibliography of the Works on the Stewart 

and Stuart Families, 113, 171 

Barclay of Ury, 29, 142 

Books on Scottish Heraldry, 32 

Brodies, Lawrances, and Murdochs in 1745, 103 

Brodie and Hoare Families, 57 

Brodie, Michie, and Gauld Families, 59, 66 

Bvron and the Plain of Marathon, 77 

Church Tokens, 34 

Drum used at Harlaw, 157 

English County Anthology, 94, 173 

Farquhars in Longside, Aberdeenshire, 45 

Folk-Lore of Baptism, 61 

General Hugh Mercer, 140 

Gift to Burns' Daughter, 71 

' Glencoe Massacre Relic, 133 

Gordon Book- Plates, 40 

Grace before Meat, 28 

The Haigs of Bemersydc, 12, 63 

James Murdoch, Author, 29 

Lanark Lanimer Day, 14 

Lawrance and Lawrence Families in Aberdeen- 
shire, 116, 134 

Lawrances of Pitscow, Kininmonth, 78 

Lawrance Subscribers to James Fordyce's 

Hymns, no 

Lawrances in Usan, 13 

Lawrence and Mackintosh Families, 158 

Leading Apes, 29 

Rh}mie on Gold, 104 

Rhyme on Snuff, 77 



INDEX 



IX. 



Murdoch, Robt.»on St. Mary's Chapel, Aberdeen, 62 

Scotsmen in the Russian Navy, 40 

Scott and Urauhart Families, 136 

Shaws of Rotniemurchus, 157 

Sir James Horn Burnett's Challenge Bugle, 77 

Sir J. Willoughby Gordon, 163 

The Name Bodie, 94 

The Woods of Bonnington, 53 

The Words of " Cockabendy," 173 

Thomas Lawrence's Mortification, 78 

Tinder Boxes in Church, 126 

Traditions relating to the Lawrance Family, 84 

"Verses on Two Babes," 12, 31 

W. J. Linton's Origin, 46 

William Farquhar, Author, 46 

Musical Terms— "Treble," "BimuU-Clieff," 141, 160 



N 

Napoleon, Anecdote of, 26 

Nineteen Years' Leases, 189 

North TatUr, 10 

Northern Fencibles, 77, 84 

North Magaxine, 188 

Notably Men and Women of Forfarshire, 118, 137, 

147, 162, 186 
New Spalding Club: Annual Reports by the 

Council, 9 
Normal Standard, 123 



" Out of the Mouth of Babes," 76 



P., H. A., on The Dean, 192 

P., P. B., on Grammar Schools, 12 

Peden, Robert (Rev.), 56 

Paludanus Bernardus, 48 

Parr, Old, 153 

Paterson, Peter, 45, 79 

•* Patriotism " in 1778, 74 

Paul, Robert, on Blackwood's Magazine, 142 

Dr. George Bethune, 128 

Perplexity, on Subject Superiors Wanted, 15 

Peter, D. M., 71 

Peter, Mr. D. McGregor, 94 

Pitman, H. A., on Ramsay of Abbotshall and 

Waughton, 92 
Place-Names, Dialects, and Folk-lore of the North 

of Scotland, 61 
Place- Name Psalm Tunes, The Origin of, 150 
" Pony," The Word, 156, 190 
Pretender, The Old, 172 
Prince Charlie's Persian Horse, 93, 112 
Bn>phecy, A Curious, Fulfilled, 91 
Proud Parent, on " Out of the Month of Babes," 76 
Provan, Moses, 29, 48, 64, 142 



R., D., on John Moncrief of Tippermalloch, 172 

R., J. G., on The Grants of Auchannachy, m 

R., S., on Gordon, Garmouth, 93 

Rainy, Genealogy of Principal, 124 

Ramsay of Abbotshall and Waughton, 92, in 

Ramsay, Sir Alex., 189 

Rankin, Ranald, 3 

Rannie, John (Rev.), 56, 146 

Rats and Grapes, 97 

Rebel of 1745, 171 

Reid, Alan, on The Cant Family, 67 

on the Dean (or Den), 192 

on Bonnington, 192 

on Cruden, author of the Concordance, 192 

on John's Coffee House, 192 

on Wm. Aikman, 191 

"Coxswain Johnnie," 92 

Forfarshire, 71 

Henry Shanks, 79 

Lawrances in Usan, 79 

Leyden's Poems, 77 

Mr. D. Macgregor Peter, 94 

Rhyme on Snuff, 95 

"Rosy-fingered Morn," 77 

Rhyme on Gold, 104 
Rhyme on Snuff, 77, 95, no 
Ridpath, George, The Birthplace of, 100, 132 
Robertson, R., on James Murdoch, Author, no 
"Rose Douglas," 140, 159 
Rose and Heart, 99 
Ross, Alexander (Rev.), 56 

Ross, Calder, on James Watson's "History ot 
Printing," 126, 144 

James Watson, Printer, Edinburgh, 141 

Ross, James (Rev.), 56 

Ross, Walter R. (Rev.), 56 

Ross-shire, on The Gardens of Carroll, no 

"Rosy-fingered Morn," 6, 77, 95 

Royal Visits to Aberdeen : Address to Charles H., 25 

Ruddiman^s Weekly Mercury, 179 



S., on Ballad on the Battle of Bannockburn, 15 

Battles of Preston, Falkirk, and Culloden, 30 

Buchanan Hospital, 47 

B3rron and the Plains of Marathon, 95 

Captain George Gordon, R.N., 158 



' Clan Maclean, 79 

- Caddell (? Calder), alias MacPherson, 159 

- *• Coxswain, Johnnie," in 

- David Lindsay, in 

- Gordon-Anderson Marriage, 159 

- Grace before Meat, 63 

- Henry Shanks, 79 

- Hutton, Hepburn, Liddersdale, 47 

- Inglis Family, 158 

- Jardine, Rannie, Dundas, 159 

- James Watson, Printer, Edinburgh, 175 

- John Heiton, 80 

- Jonet Kirk, 15 



1 



X. 



INDEX 



S., on Lawrances in Usan, 47 

Lieutenant Alexander Stuart, 15 

Longmore Family, 158 

Mrs. Gordon of Craig, 158 

Neil McAlpine, 48 

Peter Paterson, 79 

Priest Gordon, 80 

Robert Colvile, 15 

The Highland Independent Companies, 158 

What is a ** Tap '* or " Tapion " ? 47 

William Mackay, 47 

A Scots Review, 96 

S., W., on Adam Donald, 63 

on the word Pony, 190 

Bernardus Paludanus, 48 

Burke's " Landed Gentry," 80 

Cockburnspath, 31 

Drumquhassill, 159 

George Blair, M.A., 64 

George Caw, Printer, Hawick, 11 1 

Glasgow Book, 64 

Grammar Schools, 30 

James Clyde, LL.D.,64 79 

Lieutenant Forsyth Grant, 3 1 

Prince Charlie's Persian Horse, 112 

" Rose Douglas,'' 159 

" Rosy.fingered Morn," 95 

** Sawney Beane," 129 

Sir Cosmo Gordon, 158 

The Birthplace of George Ridpath 132 

The Grants of Auchannachy, 11 1 

The Haigs of Bemersyde, 46 

The '* Standard Habbie," 176 

Saunders, W., on Burke's Landed Gentry, b2 

Still Room, 54 , 

on The Cant Family, 24, 58 

** Sawney Beane," loi, 129 

Scots Episcopacy, 191 

Scot, The, and his Regiments, 125 

Scott and Urquhart Families, 136 

Scoto-Britannicus, 140, 159 

Scots Episcopacy, 157 

ScoU RevieWy 78, 96 

Scotsmen in the Russian Navy, 40 

Scottish Poets, 148 

Scottish Saints at Kalendars, 149 

Senex on Rhyme on Snuff, 95 

Shanks, Henry, 45, 79, 95 

Shank House, near Edinburgh, 189 

Shaw, John, 4 

Shaws of Rothiemurchus, 157 

Simpson, Henry, on A Rebel of 1745, 171 

Sinclair, James, Arboriculturist, 152 

Sintun, James, on George Caw, Printer, Hawick, 92 

Leyden's Poems, 85 

Some of Dr. John Leyden's Inedited Poems, 60 

Skelton, C. O., on Captain George Gordon, R.N., 
of Greenhaugh, 174 

The Forbes Family, 53 

Smellie, George (Rev.), 56, 146 

Smith, Archibald, M.D., 4 

Smith, Donald, M.D., 4 

Smith, James, on Volunteer Officers, 1794- 1808, 30 



Smith John, D.D., 4 

Smith, John (Rev.), 56 

Smith, Madeline, 115, 136, 147 

Spaldirfg Club, New, 147 

Spalding Club Reports, 8 

Spark, Alexander, D.D., 56 

Spence, Alexander, D.D., 57, 146 

St, George' s-iu'the- West Parish Churcht Congregation 

Ret*ortf 9 
S. Mary's Chapel, Aberdeen, 62 
Stand Sure, on The Origin of Place-Name Psalm 

Tunes, 150 
** Standard Habbie," 157, 175, 191 
Stark Family, The, 6 
Stephen, Dr., Botanist, 13, 32 
Stewart, Catherine Maxwell, 4 
Stewart, Charles, D.D., 4 
Stewart, John (Professor), and his Pupil William 

Grant, 49 
Stewart, Major-General Robert, 5 
Stewart, Christina Brooke, 5 
Stewart, Mary, 4 
Stewart or Stuart Family, 30 
Still Room, 45, 54, 68, 85, no. 
Stone Coffin found at Leslie, 88 
Stuart, Alexander (Lieutenant), 15 
Stuart, Sir John, 4 
Subject Superiors Wanted, 15 
Surtees Ballad Frauds, 86 



T., J. B., on Bibliography of Pprth, 164 

Dr. George Bethune, 127 

T., J. W. H., on Dr. Stephen, BoUnist, 13 

Rev. J. Brichan, Botanist, 13 

T., W. L., on Adam Donald, 47 

•* Tap" or " Tapion " ? What is a, 13, 47 

Tatler, 10 

Tawse, John (Rev.), 146 

" The Silver Eel," 29 

" The Spy," 8 

Thomson, Cecil McNeil, Mrs. Sword, 5 

Thomson, George (Rev.), 146 

Thomson or Thompson, George (Rev.), 57 

" Thole and Think on," 45, 79 

Tinder Boxes in Church, ia6, 159 

Tingle, Alfred, B.Sc, 57 

Touche, formerly Touch, George A., on Early 

Volunteering in Aberdeen, 12 
Tron Church and Parish of Edinburgh, Proposed 

History of, 22 
Turner, Lieut. -General Charles, 5 
Turreff, Gavin, 188 



U 

Ugieside, on Still Room, 68 
Urquhart, Hugh, D.D., 146 



v., Q., on The Word "Pony," 156 
** Verses on Two Babes," 12, 31 



INDEX 



XI. 



Volunteer Officers of 1794-1808, 14, 30 
Volunteering, Early, in Aberdeen, 12 

w 

W., on Aberdeen Painters, 15 

Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire, 141 

Barbara Gordon (Mrs. Farquhar), 47 

Border Has wells, 14 

Brompton Oratory Design, 96 

— Dr. Stephen, Botanist, 32 
Edith Aitken, in, 174 

— Fetterangus, 96 

Gordon House Academy, Kentish Town, Lon- 
don, no 

Hay of Monkton, 14 

James Murdoch (Author), 48 

— Origin of the Names *' Beinn lutharn Mhor " 

and " Beag," 80 

Ramsay of Abbotshall and Waughton, ni 

Rev. J. Brichan, Botanist, 31 

Robert Gordon of Xeres de la Frontera, n i 

Sir James Horn Burnett*s Challenge Bugle, 95 

Stewart or Stuart Family, 30 

— The Name McKelvie, 80 
The Word " Esconse," 96 

'* Thole and Think on," 79 

Volunteer Officers of 1794- 1808, 14 

\V., G., on A Mackie Marriage, 143 
on The ** Standard Habbie,*' 191 

Drumquhassill, 159 

- — Rhyme on Snuff, no 

\V.. J. M. A., on Cardno Family, 141 
Lunan Families, 141 

— — Mariota Dunbar, 15 • 



W., W. B. R., on Forfarshire, 88 

Forfarshire as a Factor in Scottish Life and 

Thought, 17, 41, 50, 69, 81, 99, 105 

James Clyde, LL. D. , 63 

The Word *' Esconse," 96 

— The *' Standard Habbie," 175 
Walker, George, on Provost Brown of Aberdeen and 

the Edinburgh Weekly Journal^ 16 
Ward, Colonel Sir Edward, 6 
Warden, A. J., 45, 64, 118 
Watson, James, History of Printing by, Edinburgh, 

1713, 126, 144 
Watson, James, Printer, Edinburgh, 141, 175 
Weekly journal, 122 

Weekly Magazine^ or, Edinburgh Amusement, 166 
Whitelaw, Alexander, 76 
Whyte, Christina, 5 
"Wicked Bible," Another, 182 
Wienholt, Mrs. E. C, on Hutton, Hepburn, Lidder- 

dale, 13 
Wilson, James, M.A. (Rev.), 146 
Wilson, Robert, M.D., 5 
Wilson, W. B. R., on Notable Men and Women of 

Argyleshire, 4 
Notable Men and Women of Forfarshire, 118, 

137, 146, 162, 186 



X., on Madeline Smith, 136 



v., J., on Longmore Family, 174 

Y., R., on Lunan Families, 174 

Yeats, John, on Parody of " Bonnie Dundee," 29 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES 



Vol. VIII. "1 ISJr^ t 
2nd SERresJ ^^^' ^^ 



July, 1906. 



itSQISTEKBP 



{ 



Priob 3d. 
Per Post 4d. 



CONTENTS. 



NivPKS:— 



PA0£ 



A Korbes Letter J 

Macphenon Letters. II 2 

NotHble Men and Women of Arjryleshire J 

StarkFamily • g 

Mackint<»8he8 In Ulenahee ; McCombie Family 7 

Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals : Reporw 8 

A Bibliogmphy of Edinburgh Periodical Literature 10 

Early Volunteering In Aberdeen 12 

Minor Notjis:— 

Foxes Eating Fruit • • • ^ 

Ranald Rankin— John Grant of Gleugairn— Peter 

Agnew ^ 

" Rosy-flngcred Mom " J 

"The Spy *— The Andersons of Mounle 8 

The Scots Name of Touch 12 

QOERIRS :— 

Grammar Schools— The Halga of Beniersyde- Verses 
on Two Babes 12 

Rey. William Duncan-J^ohn Gordon, Schoolmaster, 
Belhel vie— William Mackay— Hutton, Hepburn, 
Liddertlale — Cockburnspath — Rev. J. Brichan, 
Botanistr— Dr. Stephen, Botanist— Gordon of Kll- 
drumniy— Lawrances in Usan— What is a "Tap" 
or *• Taplon?" 13 

Curious Figures on a Tombstone— Barbara Gordon 
(Mrs. Farquhar)— Buchanan Hospital 14 

Lanark Lanimer Day -Parody of "Bonnie Dundee 
Mariota Dunbar — Subject Superiors Wanted— 
Jonet Kirk 14 

Aberdeen Painters -Robert ColvlUe— Ballad on the 
Battle of Bann<xjkbum— Provost Bi-own of Aber- 
deen and the Editiburgh Weekly Journal— Bor- 
der Haswells — Hay of Monkton — Volunteer 
Officers of 1794-1808. 15 

Lieutenant Alexander btuart 16 

LITERATURE 16 

S<x)Ts Books of the Month 16 



ABERDEEN, JULY, igo6. 



A FORBES LETTER. 
The following letter, unsigned, is preserved 
with the Tammore Papers, which the writer is 
engaged in transcribing with a view to publica- 
tion. It is of considerable local interest, and 
some reader may be able to mdicate by which 
member of the Forbes family it was written. It 
was undoubtedly addressed to Robert Grant, 
Tammore, factor for Grant of Ballindalloch : — 

D' Sir 

I had a letter from your Son Saturdays Night 
last he his Verie weell and writs me he hade received 
the Monie you Dessired to send him we have been 
this eight days past in great Confution with a Partie 
in our Countrie seeking Men ther was 30 of them 



Quartered on our People for the Most of the Last 
week but beeing acquant with the Captain and the 
most of them Skellators men I got them set of with- 
out doeing us any more harm they burnt a Big Corn 
Stack in Glendys intrest and Set Bre to two Hosses 
and has Carried of 15 men from Kindy side they 
have been havie on Alerg and Mr Stuarts Land has 
Burnt Corn and Housses and Caried of Men from 
them ther is a Garison set up at Curgarph and Above 
a hunder Horse with Arms and Amonition com from 
Strathbogie to it. God Almightie Send relife to the 
Cuntrie for if it Dont com soon they will ruin ous 
all ther is an Other partie expected from Alford Verie 
Soon and we hear they ar doeing great Mischief 
ther Robie Forbes was unluckallie Caried of from 
£dn with the Hcighland Armie we can get no 
acounts of him Since the Army cam North only we 
heard from Aberdeen yt ther was a troop of Pitsligos 
horse taken prissoners at the retrate of Stirling and 
yt he was amongst them but of this we are not 
certain his father his Vastlie unessie about him I 
get no letters from my frind I want to kno what 
Acounts Mrs Grant Bendaloch has we are told the 
Heighland Regement is with the Duke of Cumber- 
land I beg you writ Me if you kno if they are with 
him ore if the Royall [sic'] be with him make my 
Compliments to Mrs Grant in hast I am D' Sir 

Yours &c 

[No signature.] 

[Endorsed in Tammore*s handwriting — ] 

Mister Forbes Letter without date 1746. 

The omission to sign the letter was probably 
intentional, having regard to the state of affairs 
in the district, and the approximate date of the 
letter can be easily guessed. H. D. McW. 



Foxes Eating Fruit.— In Scotland foxes 
have not the opportunity of eating grapes, as we 
know from the Song of Solomon they did in 
Palestine, and, as a well-known fable shows, 
they did in the south of Europe in ancient 
times. In Scotland, however, foxes are fond of 
blaeberries, and eat them so freely that the 
colour of their dung is affected by them. Dogs 
also show a liking for blaebernes, and crows 
and curlews eat them in large quantities. In 
the Arctic regions the white bear eats berries 
and the fruits of bushes. 

John Milne, LL,D. 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[July, 1906 



MACPHERSON LETTERS.— II. 
(2nd S., VIL, 167.) 



He must be prejudiced, indeed, who can 
peruse without some degree of emotion a letter 
penned by so renowned a chieftain as the gallant 
but unfortunate Macpherson of Cluny, actor in 
the '45, and without reflecting on the extra- 
ordinary services rendered by him and his clan 
to the house of Stuart, and on his and their 
adventures and sufferings subsequent to the 
conflict at Culloden, but in which the Macpher- 
sons and other Jacobite dans, unfortunately for 
the cause of Pnnce Charles, were not destined 
to take part How happily inspired were the 
following lines, and how meet the tribute which 
is paid to Cluny : — 

In the land of the Macphersons, 
Where the Spey's wide waters flow, 

In the land where Royal Charlie 
Knew his best firiend in his woe. 

As there are presumably but few relics of the 
famous chief in existence, I append copy of a 
letter addressed by him to Robert Grant of 
Tammore, Inveravon, the original of which is 
preserved in the British Museum. No doubt 
the subject matter of the letter is commonplace 
enough, being merely illustrative of the fact that 
Cluny, like his kinsman of Invereshie, was in 
the habit of deriving supplies of meal from the 
lower districts of Strathspey, in this instance 
^m Elchies in Knockando (probably Easter 
Elchies, then the property of Patrick Grant, 
Lord Elchies, a staunch Hanoverian, and for 
whom Tammore acted as factor, as well as for 
Grant of Ball indal loch). The insinuation con- 
tained in Cluny s letter as to the methods of the 
Elchies people may perhaps be open to doubt. 
It is a fairly **far cry" from Elchies to Badenoch, 
and who can say what '^accidents" may have 
befallen Cluny's people by the way? Perhaps 
he did not send to Tammore the order which a 
worthy member of the Clan Grant discreetly 
gave on a similar occasion : '* Seali the Sacks 
tL'itA the A/ea//.'' 

The chief point of interest connected with 
the letter is perhaps its date, since it was in 
the month of .August, 1745, ^^t Cluny was 
" captured '' by the Prince, and the mention at 
the close of the letter of his being ** on haste *' 
may not improbably refer to some matter con- 
nected with the impending rising. Prince Charles 
having on the 6th of .August, the actual date of 
Clunj-'s letter, despatched letters to all the 
friendly chiefs, informing them of his resolution 
to erect his standard at Glen finnan on the igih 



of that month, and desiring them to meet him 
there on that date (Chambers's "History"). The 
letter runs : — 

D' Sir 

Tm sorry to find by All that have brought 
home of the Elchiss meall that the measure does not 
at all hold out; it makes not a grain more y"^ 13 
pecks and ane half soe y^ its not possible they get 
the nine stone. I beg you cause advert to thos 
peoples giving the nine stone honestly at this time. 
The meall indeed is allowed by all to be excellent, 
and pray write to M" Grant on this head. I am on 
haste but Sincerely 

D' Sir 
your most ob* Scrv* 

Ev: McPherson 
Cluny 6*^ Aug* 1745 

The following is taken from Tammore's copy 
of a letter addressed by him to Cluny a few days 
prior to the date of the above letter, and contains 
references to members of the Macpherson clan, 
which may be of interest to some readers : — 

Sir 
The Bearer John McPherson in Presmuchrach 
came here yesterday for fifteen bolls meall and 
Brought me your order to give Malcome McPherson 
in Cnibinmore seventy bolls And tho the order wants 
a date and the Letter from Malcom McPherson is 
unsubscrivd I have given this bearer the fifteen 
bolls meall at nine stone to the boll agreable to our 
Bargain and I have given Robert McPherson in 
Riven on your oyr precept of the 13*^ Jully three 
bolls so that you want no more than two bolls of 
the Contents of this precept sent me by the bearer 
that is to say the twenty bolls deliverd to Crathy 
Croy on your first precept the fifteen to this man 
and the three bolls to Robert McPherson makes in 
haill thirty eight bolls and Jo Proctor answerd my 
precept for ten bolls which was deliverd to a son of 
ffinlay McPherson's Broyr to Invemahaven so you 
have two of the precepts I sent you that are not yet 
come to my hand one for fourty bolls on Mrs Grant 
of Achterblair at Carron and the oyr for ten on Jo 
Proctor which will be duly answerd when they come 
to hand But youl observe that as there is three bolls 
already given to Robert McPherson in Riven on 
your precept of the 13^ Jully that the sd three bolls 
is to be keept out of Malcom McPhersons precept 
And that Malcom is to get no more than two bolls 
of the five he wants of this meall so you may order 
him to get three bolls of the fourty that Mrs Grant 
of Achterblair is to deliver because youl see that the 
two thats undeliverd here and that fourty with the 
ten that Jo Proctor is to deliver for your own use 
com pleats the hundred bolls I sold you and for which 
I got your security I am with Esteem 

Sir 
Yor most humble sert 

[Rob: Grant.] 
Tomoir August ist 1745 
! To Cap^ Euen McPherson of Cluny 



Vol. VIII., 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



John Proctor mentioned in the above letter 
was probably identical with the notary of 
that name in Clayfurr (Easter Elchies) who 
drew up the will of Isobell Mc William (daughter 
of William McWilliam in Wester Galdwall) in 
1744, and also prepared the marriage contract 
of her sister Elizabeth on her marriage in 1756 
with William Anderson in Aldawick. John is 
described at this time as "late in Clayfurr." 

H. D. McW. 



Ranald Rankin (2nd S., VII., 106).— In my 
note on this Gaelic scholar, an error crept into 
it which I am unwilling to acknowledge— namely, 
" Macpherson's Latin Translation of Ossian." 
Now, James Macpherson has enough notoriety 
without having this also thrust upon him ; 
besides, I do not think that he was capable of 
the task. The translator was a schoolmaster 
named Robert Macfarlane, an enthusiastic ad- 
mirer of Ossian. He first published " Temora'' 
in Latin verse in 1769. He was killed in 1804 
in one of those brutal outbursts at a contested 
election at Brentford peculiar to our Southron 
brethren. After his death, the Highland Society 
of London published in 1807 the whole of 
Ossian done into Latin verse by Macfarlane. 
It was this book that Father Rankin presented 
to the Melbourne Public Library. I went to 
consult it recently, but could not find it in its 
customary place, and, on referring to the manu- 
script catalogue, I perceived the detestable 
letters " S. R." attached to it, and, indeed, to all 
the books on the Ossian ic controversy — mean- 
ing that it had been removed to the "store 
room "below the building — for the benefit of rats 
and other vermin, I suppose — the shelves being 
now occupied with modern trash, which gives 
me "the cheek-ache" (using a Colonialism) to 
look at their flashy exteriors but empty insides. 
Many of Burns' editions have been sent to the 
same limbo, for what reason it is idle to con- 
jecture. As Neil Izzet sarcastically observes, 
" the only thing Scotch admitted by those rigid 
censors is our whisky ! " I may state that my 
surmise about Father Rankin dying in this 
Colony is substantially correct, as the Scottish 
Catholic Directory for 1894, which I have re- 
cently perused, gives his death in Australia in 
^^63. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



John Grant of Glengairn (2nd S., VII., 

127). — I thank Mr. G. Sim for his courtesy and 

assiduity in ascertaining the correct place and 

date of decease of Grant. I presumed that he 

went to Canada, not Australia, and would have 

written to that effect; and this simple fact shows 
to me the value and importance of Scottish 
Notes and Queries in determining such literary 
problems. Camden is about forty miles south- 
west of Sydney, and about 550 miles distant 
from Melbourne. I have been in the vicinity of 
Camden before now, and should I happen to be 
there again, the little township will have an 
added interest to me as the place where the 
author of the " Legends of the Braes o' Mar " 
terminated his mortal career. 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



John Grant of CIlengairn.— The follow- 
ing entry in the Register of the Scots College 
at Valladolid, which appears in the " Records of 

the Scots Colleges at Douai, Rome, Madrid, 
Valladolid, and Ratisbon," printed for the New 
Spalding Club, Aberdeen, relates to poor John 
Grant " of Glengairn," author of " Legends of 
the Braes of Mar," concerning whom several 
enquiries and answers have appeared from time 
to time in Scottish Notes and Queries: — 

1846. 2 Jul. Joannes Grant. Natus 4 Aprilis 
1830. Vallisoleti confirmatus est 24 Junii 1847, et 
8 Novembris sequentis abiit re infecta. Ad Col- 
legium Blairense admissus est, illud iiutem brevi 
reliquit t p 



Peter Agnew.— In the late P. R. Drum- 
mond's posthumous book, "Perthshire in By- 
gone Days*' (1879), ^c specifies Peter Agnew as 

a man of all-round ability in their little circle — 
painter, poet, actor, musician, and conversa- 
tionalist, and regretted that he could not tell 
what became of him. Agnew came to Aberdeen 
and practised as an artist, but died prematurely 
on the 15th December, 1842, aged 52. His 
widow placed a humble stone in St. Nicholas 
Churchyard in memory of her spouse. Agnew 
is a south country name, derived from the 
French agneau (lamb), which in turn has been 
adopted from the Latin agnus. 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[July, 1906 



NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF 
A R G Y L E S H I R E. 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol. VII., p. ISl.) 



436. Shaw, John : Lochnell's Bard. He is 
named James by Professor Blackie, who also 
says that he was born at Mull in 1758, and 
"seems to have been a worthless fellow, as, 
indeed, it happens with rhymers not seldom." 
Shaw lived at Ardchattan, partly supported by 
the kindness of General Campbell of Lochnell, 
whose family still dominate in that part. He 
died in 1828. 

437. Smith, Archibald, M.D. : Author, j 
A native of Argyleshire, he resided in his native 
county, where he had an estate. He was the 
author of" Peru as it is," 1839, a book called by 
the Athemeumy "an agreeable and judicious 
companion." He died in 1868. 

438. Smith, Donald, M.D.: Gaelic Scholar 
and Antiquary. He was a native of Croft 
Brackley, Glenurchy, and was born in 1756. 
He is referred to as having taken part in the 
controversy about Ossian's poems by Campbell 
of Islay in "Popular Tales of the West High- 
lands." He died in 1805. 

439. Smith, John, D.D. : Divine, and 
Gaelic Scholar and Antiquary. Born at Croft 
Brackley, Glenurchy, in 1747, he was licensed 
by the Presbytery of Kintyre in 1773, and or- 
dained by them as missionary at Tarbert. He 
was translated to Kilbrandon parish in 1777, 
and to Campbeltown in 1781 ; had \^.V>. from 
Edinburgh University in 1787, and died in 1827. 
He was distinguished as a successful preacher, 
a man of great information, and an able scholar 
and divine. He took a large part in translating 
the Bible into Gaelic. The Book of Isaiah 
has always been appreciated as superior and 
masterly translation, and it was mainly his work, 
though revised by another Gaelic scholar. He 
also revised and corrected a metrical version of 
the Psalms, which is generally used in the 
Southern Highlands, and esteemed for the sim- 
plicity and purity of its language, and the easy 
and harmonous flow of its versification. His 
published works are : — " Gaelic Antiquities," 
1780; " V^iew of the Last Judgment," 1783; 
".Sean Dana li Ossian, Oran, Ulann, etc.," 1787; 
"Sailm Dhaibhidh, niaille ri Laoidhean o'n 
Scrioptur naomha, chum bhi air an seinnann 
an aora' Dhia Dun-Eideann," 1787; "Summary 
View and Explanation of the Writings of the 



Prophet," 1787; "Isaiah: Translation by Robert 
Lowth, D.D., with a Summary View and Ex- 
planation of the Same," 1791 ; "Affectionate 
Address to the Middling and Lower Classes of 
British Subjects on the Present Alarming Crisis,** 
1798; "Life of St. Columba," 1798; "General 
View of the Agriculture of the County of Argyle," 
1805 ; " Lecture on the Nature and End of the 
Sacred Office," 1808; "Account of the Parish 
of Campbeltown" ("Stat. Ace. of Scotland," 
Vol. X.). 

440. Stewart, Charles, D.D. : Divine, 
Poet, etc. A native of Appin, where he was born 
in 1 75 1, he was licensed by the Presbytery of 
Lorn in April, 1775, and ordained to the pastoral 
charge of the parish of Coll in 1776, but trans- 
lated to the parish of Strachur in 1779. He got 
new churches built at Strachur in 1789, and at 
Strathlachlan, 1792. He was made a D.D. by 
St. Andrews University in 1804, and died 1826. 
He was a much esteemed parish minister. 

441. Stew.\rt, Catharine Maxwell : 
Minor Poet. Born Achenodashenaig, Mull, 
about fifty years ago, she figures in " Modern 
Scottish Poets," edited by Mr. Edwards, of 
Brechin, and seems to have written some good 
occasional verse. 

442. Stuart, Sir John : Vice-Chancellor 
of England. Son of Dugald Stuart of Bala- 
clinsh, .Appin, he was born in 1793, and edu- 
cated at the High School and University of 
Edinburgh. Called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn 
in 1 8 19, he became Q.C. in 1839. He was 
chosen M.P. for Newark from January, 1846, 
till January, 1852, when he was returned for 
Bury St. Edmunds, a burgh for which he sat 
till his appointment the £ame year to the of!ice 
of Vice-Chancellor. He was D.L. and J. P. for 
Ross-shire, and joint author of " Reports of 
Cases decided in the Court of Chancery by the 
Vice-Chancellor, Sir John Leach," and " Simon's 
and Stuart's Reports, 1823-6." He died in 1876. 

443. Stewart, Mary : Centenarian. This 
remarkable instance of longevity was bom at 
Swordle, Ardnamurchan, in 1793, and died 
some years ago upwards of a hundred years old. 
Her ancestors for generations were farmers. 
Never much from home, she was well and widely 
known in the parish of her birth and the sur- 
rounding district. Her habits were character- 
istically plain and simple. Never seriously ill, 
she never used medicine during all her long life. 
Possessed of a fund of genial humour, she was 
always good company, and fond of a " crack " 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



5 



with her neighbours. Brimful of Highland 
folklore, and remembering many incidents long 
forgotten by the neighbourhood, she used to 
rehearse stories of the past with much fascina- 
tion and grace. Speakmg nothing but Gaelic, 
which she employed with idiomatic purity, she 
was an authority on all local events that tran- 
spired during her lifetime. To the last her 
faculties were little impaired. Her memory lost 
little of its power, her hearing remained almost 
perfect, and her eyesight was so keen that, with 
glasses, she could thread a small needle. She 
never married. 

444. Stewart, Christina Brooke: Au- 
thoress. A native of Argyleshire, she published 
"Grace Darling," "The Loiterer in Argyleshire" 
(1845), ^^^ other works. 

445. Stewart, Major General Robert 
Crosse, C.B. Born in Appin, 1825, and edu- 
cated privately, he was recommended for a 
commission without purchase by the Duke of 
Wellington out of regard for his father's services 
in the Peninsular War. Most of his military 
life was spent in India, and in 1857 he was 
appointed interpreter to the 7th Hussars at 
Calcutta. He was present at the capture of 
Meangunge, and also at Lucknowin 1858, where 
he was severely wounded. Made Adjutant- 
General in the Madras Army, he represented 
that arm of the service at the Delhi celebrations 
in 1877. As Governor of Netley Hospital, he 
received the Queen in 1879. He entered the 
Army in 1842; became Captain, 1855; Major, 
1858; Lieut. -Colonel, 1869; Colonel, 1874, and 
Major General (retd.), 1884. He received his 
C.B. in 1881. 

446. Thomson, Cecil McNeill, Mrs. 
Sword : Minor Poet. Bom at Ardleisa, she is 
mentioned by Edwards in his " Modern Scottish 
Poets" (Vol. IV.), and specimens of her verse 
are given. She seems to have been a fairly 
prolific versifier, and was alive in 1880. 

447. Turner, Lieut.-General Charles : 
Governor of Sierra Leone. The son of a t3nant 
of the farm of Drumlie, in Glenshern, Inverary, 
and born there, through the influence of the 
Duke of Argyle he got a commission in the 
Army. During the rebellion in Ireland in the 
eighteenth century he distinguished himself, 
and lost an arm in the fighting. He rose to the 
rank of Lieut-General by distinguished service, 
and was appointed Governor of Sierra Leone, 
where he died after a few years' service. 



448. Whyte, Christina : Minor Poet. A 
native of Appin, she figures in "Modern Scottish 
Poets,'* edited by Edwards, of Brechin (Vol. IX.), 
and specimens of her verse are given there. 

449. Wilson, Robert, M.D. : Noted 
Doctor. He was born at Inverneill, South 
Knapdale, some time in the twenties of the nine- 
teenth century, and died in 1880. 

450. Boyd, William, D.D. : United Free 
Church Divine. Born in Kilmun in 1832, he 
was educated for the ministry in the U.P. 

i Church, and ordained to the charge of the 
Milnathort congregation 8th March, i860. Mr. 
Boyd had been called shortly before to Erskine 
Church, Falkirk, and he was also invited to 
succeed Dr. Fletcher in Finsbury Chapel, Lon- 
don. He was instrumental in building the 
present fine church and manse in Milnathort. 
The church, which cost ;^3,ooo, was opened 6th 
May, 1869, by Dr. John Macfarlane, London. 
After twelve years' ministry in Milnathort, Mr. 
Boyd accepted a call to Forrest Hill Church, 
London, and was inducted to the pastoral charge 
iith July, 1872. He received the degree of 
LL.D. from Greenville College, United States, 
in 1875. Having resigned his charge in 1882, 
he settled in Glasgow, where he interested him- 
self in many forms of religious and philanthropic 
work. For many years he was a member of the 
School Board of Glasgow, and an active com- 
mittee man in connection with the Board till his 
death in 1905. 

I 451. CONNELL, Alexander (Rev), B.D. : 
I Prominent Minister of the English Presbyterian 
Church. A native of Argyleshire, and educated 
for the Free Church ministry, he succeeded the 
Rev. John MacNeill in Regent Square Presby- 
terian Church, and has maintained the high 
character of that church's pulpit for an effective 
ministry, being no unworthy successor of men 
so illustrious as pulpit orators as Edward Irving, 
Dr. James Hamilton, and Dr. Oswald Dykes. 
He is one of the most popular ministers in 
London, and is spoken of at present as a likely 
successor of Dr. Watson of Liverpool. 

452. Lamont, Norman, M.P. : Liberal 
Politician. Son of a previous member for Bute- 
shire, Mr. James Lamont of Knockdhu, he was 
successful in wresting the representation of 
Buteshire from the Conservatives in the early 
part of 1905, and retained the seat at the general 
election of 1906. He is a man of talent, and 
very liberal in his views. 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



QULY, 1906 



453. Macleay, Kenneth, R.S.A.: Minia- 
ture Painter. A native of Oban, born in 1802, 
he attained some fame especially as a miniature 
painter, and before the mtroduction of photo- 
graphy, wrought with much success on ivory. 
About 1873 his sketches of Highlanders were 
brought under the notice of the Queen, when he 
received a commission to paint for Her Majesty 
several of her servants at Balmoral, and also a 
number of representatives of the clans in their 
distinctive tartans. When Mr. Macleay died, in 
1879, he was the last of the original members of 
the Royal Scottish Academy established in 1826. 

454. Ward, Colonel Sir Edward. A 
native of Oban, he was a most distinguished 
Army officer, Sir George White having described 
him as '* the best transport officer since Noah." 
He was appointed Secretary to the War Office 
by Mr. Balfour, retaining his rank and title as 
Permanent Under Secretary of Slate. 

455. MacDougall, John : The Ardgour 
Bard. Born in Argyleshire in 1 821, he died at 
Greenock, September, 1891. He published a 
volume of Gaelic verse in 1S70 under the title, 
"Gaisge nan Gaidheal." 

456. MacDougall, Duncan (Rev.): An- 
other MacDougall Bard. Said to be a native 
of Tiree, he published in 1841 his poem under 
the title *^ Laoidhean Spioradail,'* and this book 
is now difficult to procure. 

Dollar. W. B. R. WiLSON. 



STARK FAMILY. 



"Rosy-fingered Morn."--A great deal of 
inkshed has been wasted by some critics upon 
Chapman's translation of Homer's " Iliad," and 
the felicitousness of his compound epithets has 
been lauded with great fervour, more especially 
that one in Book IX.: — 

Then when the rosy-fingered morn holds out 
her silver light. 

This seems somewhat mixed, yet Chapman did 
not originate the conceit : he simply conveyed 
it from Spencer's "Faerie Queene," Book I., 
canto 2, verse 7: — 

Now when the rosy- fingered morning fair. 

So far as I know, nobody seems to have ob- 
served this before, which shows that Spencer is 
not read. The first three books of his great 
poem were printed at London in 1590, and 
Chapman's translation did not appear till 16 10 
or 161 1. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



I have observed in recent numbers of your 

serial allusions to Stark's "Biographica Scotica," 

and supply some information about him and 

others of that ilk. They were all printers. John 
Stark was a prosperous master printer, and, 
having litarary facility, he wrote several books 
and printed and published them himself. His 
" Picture of Edinburgh," which I once had, was 
fairly illustrated and had a good sale. Of course 
it is obsolete now, and only valued as an an- 
tique, date 1822. Stark was opposed to Dr. 
Robert Knox, the Professor of Anatomy in Edin- 
burgh University, in consequence of the revela- 
tions concerning the Burke and Hare atrocities, 
and being a member of the Town Council, he 
made matters so sultry for Knox that he had to 
quit the city. In Lonsdale's life of the great 
anatomist, Stark is vehemently anathematised. 
Stark died, aged 70, and was buried in a vault 
at the northern wall of St. Cuthbert's Church, 
under Edinburgh Castle rock, and next to Henry 
Nisbet of Dean's tomb. Fortunately, the in- 
scription provides biographical details which it 
would be difficult to obtain now otherwise : — 
" John Stark, printer, Edinburgh, Esq. of Hunt- 
field, F.R.S. Edin., author of * Biographica 
Scotica,' * Picture of Edinburgh,' * Elements of 
Natural History,' etc. Born Blythsmuir, Peebles- 
shire, 14th October, 1779. Died at Edinburgh, 
24th December, 1849." His cousin, Adam 
Stark, native of Edinburgh, also a printer, was 
in partnership with John from 1804 to 18 10, 
when he went into England and settled at 
Gainsborough as printer and bookseller. He 
wrote the "History and Antiquities of Gains- 
borough," published 18 17, also a "History of 
the Bishopric of Lincoln," a manual on printing, 
and died, aged 83, on the 31st December, 1867. 
Three brothers, David, James, and Allan 
Stark, all Edinburgh printers, were grandsons 
of the above, I presume. They emigrated to 
New Zealand, and started a daily paper at the 
Grey River "rush," called the Grey River Argus^ 
which I frequently saw in those days. Allan 
Stark was the editor, and he died at Greymouth 
on the 23rd August, 1875. He was alleged to 
be the oldest settler in Greymouth. David 
Stark, an expert comp., with whom I worked on 
the Scotsman, returned to Dun edin on the 
decline of the gold yield, and worked at case on 
the Evening Star until his decease in Septem- 
ber, 1903, aged 66. Concerning James, deponent 
knoweth not. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



^ 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



MACKINTOSHES IN GLENSHEE ; 
McCOMBIE FAMILY. 



The name Mackintosh is frequently found in 
connection with Glenshee in the seventeenth 
and eighteenth centuries in Privy Council, 
Sasine, and other registers, and those who bore 
it seem to have held their own against their 
turbulent neighbours and the raiders from a 
distance. From recent investigations, I am in- 
clined to the belief that there were three distinct 
families of the name in the glen in the early 
part of the seventeenth century, while a fourth 
ramiiy, believed to have been of Macdonald ex- 
traction, occupied Tiriny, at the southern end 
of Glentilt, near Blair AtholL The three families 
in Glenshee may or may not have sprung from 
one stock, but the probabilities are that they 
did not. One of them — more particularly the 
subject of this note — claimed descent from the 
Clan Mackintosh of Inverness -shire, and in 
1595 concurred with another of the families in 
acknowledging as their " natyff cheiff" the head 
of that clan. 

The three families to which I refer are those 
(i) of Dalmunzie, (2) of Cammis or Cambs, and 
(3) of Thome or Tomb, and Finegand— after- 
wards of Forter in Glenisla. 

I. The Mackintoshes of Dalmunzie 
frequently appear in record from 1584 down- 
wards, at first under the name MacRitchie, or 
Mackintosh alias McRitchie. They have still 
a hold in the district, and there can be little 
doubt that the MacRitchies who flourished in 
the neighbouring parishes of Clunie and Caputh 
from the seventeenth century were of the same 
stock. The original Richard has hitherto 
eluded all search. 

II. The Mackintoshes of Cammis or 
Cambs had the alias Mclnlay. Patrick McKin- 
leiche, elder of Cammes, and Patrick Mcln- 
leiche, younger thereof, appear in the Privy 
Council Acts of Caution on 3rd October and 4th 
November, 1603. The elder Patrick is perhaps 
identical with a Patrick Mclnlish (? Mclnlich) 
who, in 1532, obtained a tack of the teinds of 
Achallater, part of the Invercauld estate (" Rec. 
Inverc," p. 26). Some of the early Farquhar- 
sons, prior to 1600, are in the "Register of 
Deeds" and elsewhere described as "Mackintosh 
alias Farquharson," and this fact, coupled with 
the name Mclnlay (son of Finlay) and the con- 
nection with Invercauld, suggests the possibility 
that Patrick of Cammes was a son of Finla 
Mor, who was practically the founder of Clan 
Fhearchair. He does not appear among the 
sons of Finlay in the Brouchdearg MS., but he 



may have been illegitimate. It should be 
mentioned, however, that the name Finlay oc- 
curs in the sixteenth century in the family of 
Mackintosh of Tiriny already mentioned. 

The younger Patrick of 1603 seems to have 
adopted the name of Mackintosh, being des- 
cribed in "Register of Deeds" in 1643 as 
"Patrick Mcintosh alias Mclnlie," and in Act 
of Parliament of 1649 as " Patrick Mcintosh of 
Cammis." The family are found described as 
"of Cambs" down to 1739, when the male line 
appears to have ended in the person of Patrick, 
son of Lachlan, son of Alexander, son of Patrick. 
His testament was confirmed nth November, 
1736, and in 1738 his sister Elizabeth, wife of 
Alex. Mackenzie in Cambs, was served nearest 
lawful heir to him and her grandfather, and re- 
signed the lands inYo the hands of Farquharson 
of Invercauld, who had acquired the superiority. 
(Perth Sasines, Vol. XXII.) 

III. The Mackintoshes of the Tom, or 
or Thom, and of Finegand, had the alias of 
McThomie or McComie. Their history has 
been set forth in the interesting " Memoirs of 
the Family of McCombie,"by Mr. W. McCombie 
Smith (Edinburgh, 1887). They are stated in 
the MS. History of the Mackintoshes to be de- 
scended from Adam, a natural son of the 7th 
chief of Mackintosh, whose posterity were for a 
time settled at Garvamore m Badenoch ; and 
John Mackintosh of Forter, head of the sept in 
the middle of the seventeenth century, told Sir 
^neas Macpherson that he was of the " house 
of Garvamore," thus to some extent corroborat- 
ing the statement of the MS. On 31st March, 
1595, "Robert McHomie, of the tome in Glen- 
sche," joins with his neighbour of Dalmunzie 
and some of the Farquharsons in giving a band 
ofmanrent to the chief of Mackintosh as their 
"natyff cheiff" — a circumstance which may 
point to his being head of the family at the time, 
but he died before 1603 (P. C. Reg., VI., 805), 
and apparently left female issue only. John 
McHomie, who acquired a feu of Finegand on 
9th September, 1571, was probably a brother of 
Robert. His wife w^as Janet Rattray, and his 
son and apparent heir appears as "John Mak- 
comy, junior, in Finnyzeand," in a charter of 
part of Meikle Binzean in 1582, to him and his 
spouse Janet Farquharson. 

This brings me to the main object of the 
present note. According to the Brouchdearg 
MS., Finlay Mor Farquharson's eldest son 
William, " married Beatrix Gordon, daughter to 
the Lord Suderland, by whom he had only a 
daughter, Janet, married to Thomas Macintosh 
of Finniegand." There can be little doubt that 
this Janet is one and the same with the Janet 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[July, 1906 



Farquharson, spouse Qi John Makcomy, junior, 
or Mackintosh, in 1582, but there is a slight 
difficulty in regard to the Christian name of 
her husband. The Brouchdearg MS. was written 
nearly one hundred and fifty years after the 
charier, and a mistake might easily be made, 
particularly as the name Thomas formed part 
of the alias of the family name, which was 
Mackintosh alias McThomie, or son of Thomas. 
In such a matter the charter of 1 582 is far more 
likely 10 be correct, and it seems highly probable 
that the compiler of the Brouchdearg MS. has 
made a slip. It is possible that he may have 
written that Janet was married to " McThomas 
Macintosh of Finniegand," and that the**Mc" 
has been omitted from the copies consulted by 
the author of "The Family of McCombie" (p. 
10), the editor of "Records of'Invercauld*' (p. 7), 
and myself, but this is scarcely likely. Is it 
known where the original MS. is to be found? 
Presumably John McComy ^//Vwjohn Mackin- 
tosh of Finegand, who figured in the Civil War 
and afterwards removed to Forter in Glenisla, 
was son of the John Makcomy and Janet Far- 
quharson of 1582, but 1 have not been able 
absolutely to establish the fact by record evi- 
dence. Possibly some other reader may be able 
to do so. A. M. M. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ABERDEEN 
PERIODICALS: REPORTS. 



(Continued from 2nd S., VII., p, 84.) 



"The Spy" (2nd S., VII., 89).— I think that 

Mr. James Sinton would be doing a service to 

Scottish li:eralure by copying Leyden's " Song 
of Wallace" for publication in Scottish Notes 
and Queries. It is another inedited poem, in 
addition to those which I have specified in a 
preceding article. Campbell's fine poem, " The 
Dirge of Wallace," is not included in his works, 
being apparently a fragment and unrinished ; 
but the fourth and fifth verses are finely con- 
ceived and artistically written, and commend 
themselves instantaneously to every patriotic 
Scot, excepting, of course, Mr. J. C. Had den, 
whose frivolous book in the " Famous Scots 
Series" is only a prolonged sneer at the great 

P^«^- Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



The Andersons of Mounie.— A table, 
giving the pedigree of James Anderson of 
Mounie (1739- 1808), an eminent agriculturist, is 
given in a remarkable book, "The Reades of 
Blackwood Hill" (in the parish of Horton, Staf- 
fordshire), by Aleyn Lyell Reade, privately 
printed for the author by Spottiswoode, London, 
1906. 



1839- 187 1. Th: Spalding Club Reports. Issued 
gratis to members. Size, demy 410. 1839-1840, 
4pp. ; 1841, II pp. — this included the first printed 
list of members ; 1842, 16 pp.; 1843, 14 pp.; 1844, 
7 pp.; 1845-1846, 4 pp.; 1847-1848, 6 pp.; 1849, 
5 pp.; 1850-1860, 4 pp. No imprint — 1839-1840, 
1851 and 1862; 1841-1843—" Printed at the Aber- 
deen Constitutional Office by William Bennett"; 
1844-1850, 1852-1871, "by W. Bennett, Printer, 
Aberdeen." In addition to the above annual reports, 
special numbers were issued as occasion arose, 
notably in 1862, when subscriptions were invited so 
that the club might venture upon illustrating a 
volume of "Northern Antiquities." 

There were twenty rules adopted by the club when 
it was inaugurated 23rd December, 1839, the second 
of which explained briefly the object of the society, 
which was for the ''printing of inedited manuscripts, 
and reprinting of works of sufficient rarity and im- 
portance to make such reprints desirable." These 
included the historical, ecclesiastical, topographical, 
genealogical, and literary remains of the North - 
Eastern Counties of Scotland. (Resolution i, 1839.) 
Mr. John Stuart, advocate, Aberdeen, latterly of the 
Register House, Edinburgh (his address having 
changed to that of Edinburgh in 1853), was secretary 
from the start, and ably supported by many gentle- 
men of literary ability. 

The club was limited to 300 members in 1839, 500 
in 1842, and in 1843 I observe the number stood at 
469. The club was mainly composed of town and 
county gentlemen the same as its successor, and it 
is interesting to observe His Royal Highness Prince 
Albert's name appearing as patron from 1848- 1860. 
(Special reference to his resignation was made in 
i86i, p. 2.) 

The first president of the club, elected in 1839, was 
the Earl of Aberdeen, K.T., who continued in this 
position till his death, which occurred in 1859 (see 
i860 report, p. 2), when the Duke of Richmond, 
K.G., v;ho had been vice-president from 1840, suc- 
ceeded him in i860, relinquishing the post when the 
iclub was disbanded in December, 1869. 
j The club distributed thirty eight volumes to its 
'members (no fewer than ten were presented), and 
six works were issued uniform with them, but not 
forming part of the series. The last publication 
contained ** Notes of the Spalding Club, 1839-71," 
edited by John Stuart (pp. vi. + 145, with two plates ; 
list of members, 1839-71). Edinburgh, 1871. The 
annual reports of the Spalding Club, 1839-1869, 
I contained 160 pp. 

I The late Mr. William Cadenhead, who died nth 

! December, 1904, aged 85, was the last surviving 

I original member of this club. (See "In Memoriam," 

1904, p. 16.) The University Library, King's 

College, possesses a complete set of the reports. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



1882. 67. George^s-in-thc-West Parish Church 
Congregational Report. Though the congregation 
was formed 20th February, 1879, it was not till 1882 
that this welcome annual appeared. Its size has 
always been demy 8vo, and covers additional. In 
1882 it consisted of 16 pp.; 1883, 20 pp.; 1884, 23 
pp.; 1885, 20 pp.; 1886, 22 pp.; 1887, 21 pp.; 1888- 
1890, 21 pp.; 1891-1892, 23 pp.; 1893-1894, 21 pp.; 
1895, 24 pp.; 1896-1897, 21 pp.; 1898, 23 pp.; 1899, 
32 pp.— this included the ^'.Storj- of the Church, 
1879-1900"; 1900, 21 pp.; igoi, 25 pp.; 1902, 23 
pp., and two illustrations; 1903, 21 pp., illustrated 
— the same year the parish minister, the Rev. James 
Smith, M.A., B.D., F.R.G.S., F.S.A. Scot, dis- 
tributed to his congregation a history of the Church, 
1879-1904, 57 pp., illustrated ; a review of this work 
appeared in Scottish Notes and Queries^ 2nd S., VI., 
16. The 1904 issue consisted of 23 pp. The printers 
have been: — 1882- 1885, th^ Aberdeen Journal Office, 
Adelphi Court, Union Street. Aberdeen ; 1886 1904, 
John Avery & Company, Limited. A block of 
S. George and the Dragon appeared on the cover 
from 1886- 1890, and from 1891-1904 a view of the 
church has appeared instead. The following ad- 
ditional pamphlets have been issued to church 
members: — 1886 and 1901, •' Roll of Communicants 
and Adherents," consisting of 12 pp. and 22 pp. 
respectively ; in 1884 the late Alexander Walker, 
LL.D., senior trustee of the church, issued in con- 
nection with this church, which held a bazaar, an 
interesting pamphlet entitled, **A Brief Description 
! of i The Parish \ of Saint Georgesin-the-VVest | 
Being a part of | The Ancient Parish | of ] Saint 
Nicholas of Aberdeen. | Printed for the Bazaar by 
Gibb and Hay, | Royal Litho. Works, Aberdeen. | 
1884." This consisted of 10 pp., and litho. drawing 
of St. Nicholas Church. In 1887 the "Order of 
Service | for the | Jubilee of Her Majesty, | Queen 
Victoria, | 19th June, 1887," 4 pp., was printed by 
W. Jolly & Son, Aberdeen. 

The contents of the above most creditable pro- 
duction include the "Annual Pastoral Letter" by 
the minister, revenue and expenditure of the church, 
which terminates at 31st December annually, also 
brief reports of the other agencies of the church, 
which I have not thought necessary to detail at 
length. 

In December, 1884, the late Mr. William Caden- 

head wrote a poem, consisting of ten verses, entitled, 

"The Parish | of | S. George's-in-the-West," which 

was printed at the | trades' stall of the bazaar | in the 

Music Hall of Aberdeen. I reproduce verses i, 6, 

8, and 10: — 

0, less than fifty years ago, 

111 an auld farrcnt toon, 
Alan);? a street a sluggish stream 

Gaed wanderin' darkly doon. 

This was among the auldest streets 

Within that ancient broch— 
The broch was Jlst oor Aberdeen, 

The stream it was the Loch. 

Improvement reigns ; fair fabrics rise 
All round ; and, 'raong the rest, 

Stands prominent, yet half retired, 
St. Oeorge's-tn-the-West. 



While old men, as they saunter, 
With the fair change impressed. 

Pour hearty benedictions on 
S. Oeorge's-in-the-West. 

Mr. Cadenhead was also author of a poem, "Our 
Church," which will be seen on p. 7 of the special 
issue of 1903 already mentioned. 

1887. New Spalding Club, Annual Reports by 
the Council. Issued gratis to members. The in- 
augural meeting of this club was held nth Novem- 
ber, 1886, and its primary object is as follows: — 
*' To promote the study of the Topography and 
Archaeology of North -Eastern Counties of Scotland, 
and to prmt works illustrative thereof." (Rule i.) 
Size of annual, demy 4to. The first issue (1887) 
contained 38 pp., and embraced resolutions adopted 
by the Council, 25th November, 1886; reports by 
the following committees : — Editorial, William D. 
Geddes, pro C; Burgh and Judicial Records — P. M. 
Cran, C.; Ecclesiastical Records — James Moir, C; 
Family History, J. Allardyce, C; Second Editorial — 
C. Elphinstone Dalrymple, C. ; Topography and 
Archaeology— Walter Gregor, C. ; and that of the 
Council — per George Grub, C. The sizes of the 
latter issues are — 1888, 8 pp.; 1889-1893, 12 pp.; 
1894, '^ PP*» including rules as altered 21st Decem- 
ber ; 1895, '^ PP- (^^^ Society^s armorial bearings 
appeared for the first time on cover, and continued 
annually); 1896, 20 pp.; 1897-1901, 16 pp.; 1902- 
1904, 20 pp. 

The issue of 1887 bore the imprint — '* Printed by 
Milne & Hutchison, 70 Netherkirkgate, Aberdeen"; 
1897, ** Aberdeen University Press," on fifteenth 
page ; 1898 and 1899, the same, but printed on the 
face; 1900-1904, "The Aberdeen University Press, 
Limited." It bore no imprint during the years 1888- 
1 896. There are twelve rules, altered at various times ; 
these have been incorporated in the annual since 1895. 

The number of members was fixed at 400 at the 
inaugural meeting, but raised to 500 on i6th Decem- 
ber the same y«ar, and at that number it still re- 
mains. Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, was 
patroness from 1887-1900; King Edward VII. has 
been patron since 1901. Mr. P. J. Anderson has 
been secretary from the start ; Mr. Patrick Hender- 
son Chalmers was treasurer in 1887 ; from 1888 this 
post has been filled by Mr. Farquharson Taylor 
Garden. The Earl of Aberdeen has been president 
since the club's formation. During the club's exis- 
tence, twenty-eight volumes have been distributed 
to members ; six works uniform with them, but not 
forming part of the series, have been produced by 
members (two being presented to members) ; whilst 
sixteen works have been issued by the University of 
Aberdeen in conjunction with the New Spalding 
Club, under Rule 10, and appropriately designated 
"Aberdeen University Studies." A statement show- 
ing the annual income and expenditure of the club is 
incorporated in each report. Report XVIII. con- 
tains a bibliographical account of all the issues of 
the old club as well as of the new. 



Aberdeen. 



Robert Murdoch, 



lO 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[July, 1906 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc.) 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol. VII,, p. 180.) 

[Supplementary. ] 

17 10. The Tatler. Some time in this year, James 
Watson undertook to reproduce Steele's London 
Tatler, I have examined a solitary issue in the 
British Museum. 

The Tatler y by Isaac Bickerstaflf, Esq. No. 31. 
From Thursday, April 20, to Monday, April 24, 
1 7 10. Single sheet folio, two columns to page. 
Edinburgh : printed by James Watson, and sold 
at his shop next door to the Red Lyon, opposite 
to the Lucken Booths, where advertisements are 
taken in. The number contains the following 
notice : — 

" Thote who design to make a collection of this paper 
and will subscribe to take them for a year, shall be 
duly furnished by the printer and their copies printed 
on fine paper, at the rate of 7s. sterling for a whole 
year's papers, one half of which is to be paid on sab- 
scribing and the other at the expiration of a year after 
their subscription. No more fine copies will be printed 
than what are subscribed for. Subscriptions will be 
taken at the printer's shop next door to the Red Lyon, 
opposite the Luckenbooths, Edinburgh." 

Steele's Tatler was begun April 12, 1709, and ran 
for 271 numbers, or for nearly two years. Steele's 
own description of it was, ** a paper which should 
observe upon the manners of the pleasurable as 
well as the busy part of mankind." Watson, how- 
ever, does not appear to have published the whole 
periodical. The number described above corres- 
ponded with No. 160 — from Saturday, 15th April, 
to Tuesday, i8th April, 17 10. The Hope Collec- 
tion Catalogue gives Watson's No. 100 as corres- 
ponding with Steele's No. 229. It is apparent 
accordingly that Watson began with the issue of 
Steele's No. 130, some time about the beginning 
of February. Like its original, the issue appears 
to have been thrice weekly. He printed local 
advertisements. Steele's Tatler en^ed on January 
2, 171 1, and Watson's reprint must have ceased 
then, for within less than a fortnight he was 
sending out a native Tatler of his own. 

17 10. The North Tatler. The earliest reference I 
can find to this periodical is contained in Chalmers' 
** Life of Ruddiman." On p. 121 he has — 

" In March, 1710, the A'w-f A Tatter . . was printed 
by John Reid for Samuel Colvil " ; 

and he adds in a footnote — 

" The Tatler, No. 1, was dated from 27th of March to 
the Ist of April, 1710, and was published every Monday 
and lYiday." 

The use of the name by Richard Steele had given 
it currency, and many periodicals about the time 
adopted the word in their titles. From the par- 
ticulars Chalmers gives, it is evident that the 
North Tatler was distinct both from Watson's 
reprint and from the Tatler of 1711.* 

*1712. MiiCfUaneoua Numbers : relating to the controversies 
alK>ut the Book of Ck)mmon Prayer, Episcopal Qovemment, 



1714. The Edinburgh Gazette, or Scots Postman, 
with the Freshest Occurrences, Foreign and Do- 
mestic. No. I. Tuesday, March g, to Thursday, 
March 11, 1714. Single sheet folio. Price one 
penny, every Tuesday and Thursday. Edin- 
burgh : printed by Robert Brown, and the prints 
are to be sold at his printing house, Forrester's 
Wynd, and Caledona and Royal Coffee Houses. 
The coffee houses were dropped after nine num- 
bers. Neither cuts nor "with authority" appeared. 
The absence of authority suggests that Donaldson 
was now dead. 

This restart of the 1699 journal contained at 
first the usual news common to the prints of the 
day, but in No. 17 a notice appeared that the 
publisher had determined, "when the news are 
barron, to cause print and publish in my prints 
some other things tending to the benefit of the 
publick." Hence arose the occasional insertion 
of papers of the essay type, the first being con- 
veyed from the London Patriot, No. 8, "that 
great author." Nos. 28 and 29 had no imprint ; 
No. 30 had " Edinburgh : printed by John Reid 
in Pearson's Closs, a little above the Cross, north 
side of the Street." No. 32 adds " Price a penny." 
No. 44 and onwards was 6 pp., price i^d., the 
first page being used as a kind of displayed con- 
tents. The second page of No. 44 gave the 
reason for the change ; — 

"Candid Reader, our Occurrences Foreign and Do- 
mestick for several Posts have been so large, and the 
ordinary Stampt Paper so small and mean, that, to 
give a more full account of the present Transactions 
in this juncture, we are obliged to cause print the 
same sheetways and on larger paper, when there will 
be much more news, and not much dearer than former 
Prints." 

Some kind of calamity befell the journal at No. 
67, November 9, 1714. It was set up in the most 
wretched type, and had a most woebegone aspect, 
although the size was maintained. The imprint 
was "Edinburgh: printed by Mar. Reid at the 
foot of the Horse Wynd. 1714. Price i4d." 
What explanation is available may be found in the 
note which appeared on the first page : — 

"Candid Header— Though this print had the mis- 
fortune to be in hands that did not like the design of 
the laudable undertaking (advanced to undeceive the 
scrupulous and Ignorant, and to serve the present 
happy constitution), but drove the author to a neces- 
sity (rather than to drop the thing) to make use of a 
worse type at present, yet let not the well wishers to 
the undertaking be discouraged ; let them but have a 
little patience, and they shall have better type and 
more correct." 



the Power of the Church, etc., defended by Scripture. 
K^ason, Antiquity, and the Sentiments of the leam'dest 
KeformerB, particularly by John Calvin. By Mr. Robert 

?!?! f ' ^^5 ?**'x.,*'l*^**® ,^«*P«'- Edinburgh: printed in 
the year 1713 Folio. 30 numbers. Nos. 1-29 inclusive 

1712r ** separately dated December 17, 

The British Museum catalogue has the Miteellaneow 
Aumj«r« Inserted among the periodicals. It is included 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



II 



I have not seen the numbers that immediately 
succeeded No. 67, but the disasters that then fell 
on the paper were but the precursors of greater. 
No. 74 appeared as a 10 pp. small 4to, with the 
name spelled Gazzeite — a spelling which was re- 
tained. It was priced ijd., and was dated " from 
our last No. 73 to the third March 1715"— an 
interval of nearly three months. The editor 
brokenly promised — '* Shall give you in our next 
the reasons which induced the author to dis- 
continue publishing his news prints and turning 
the same into a quarto paper." The imprint was 
"Edinburgh: printed by John Moncur, 1715." 
The reasons were duly given in No. 75, which 
added to the imprint the mystic letters, " pr. 3. h. 
p.," expanded in No. 77 into "price 3 half pence": — 

" The reasons that induced the author to discontinue 
publishing of the Edivbwryh Oazette for some time 
were, first, none paid in their proportions according to 
contract except twelve, tho' the author provided each 
day about 3 quare of prints each printing day for the 
suhscrivers' use, and intimated where they might have 
them fur the fetching, which prints were all lost to the 
author, and drained him of money, 'llie second was 
that, seeing he was forced to discontinue as aforesaid 
till he raised money to carry on the undertalcing again, 
the same happening to he the dead time of the year 
when there is no action but consultations about 
matters and designs, and therefore judged it more 
proper when consiiltations appeared in action, as the 
same is now beginning to be put in action. 

"Now, the honourable subscrivers are earnestly 
desired to pay in their proportions according lo 
paction, otherwise there will be a necessity to publish 
their names who have paid and not paid.'* 

Immediate improvement did not take place, and 
it is likely that the venture finally collapsed soon 
after. The last number I have seen is No. 77 
(misnumbered 76), March 15, 1715. 

All writers on the history of the Edinburgh 
Gazette of the present day refer its origin back to 
1699, and identify it with Donaldson's publication. 
This is an entire mistake. The current official 
organ did not begin its career till near the close 
of the eighteenth century, and for eighty years no 
Edinburgh Gazette was published. The identity 
of title in the two journals is accidental. The 
present paper owes its name to the desire of the 
projectors to have uniformity of nomenclature 
among the Government journals of the three king- 
doms. The Edinburgh Gazette was meant to 
take in Scotland the position which the London 
Gazette took in England and the Dublin Gazette 
in Ireland. 

1716. The Freeholder and the Weekly Packet. 
Thursday, April 5, 17 16. 12 pp., 4to, two col- 
umns to page. Edinburgh: printed for James 
Young, and sold at Mr. Steven's Coffee-house on 
the South-side of the Street, near the Cross, 
Anno DoM. mdccxvi. The first page was used 
as a title page, and carried a cut of the Royal 
Arms of Scotland. The issue of April 5 was 
probably the first, as it contains No. i of the 
Weekly Packet^ and prints the following " adver- 
tisement " on page 2 : — 



** This paper, which goes under the name of the Free- 
holder^ is published at London twice a weeic, and Lb 
commonly reported to be the performance of the 
ingenious Mr. Addison. At the desire of several 
Gentlemen, goodjudges of such composures, it is re- 
printed here at Edinourgh. The London copies are 
sold at 3d. each week, but the Buyer has this with tho 
tTeekly Packet for half that price. As for the Weekly 
Padeety it is an impartial collection of the news from 
the best newspapers both printed and written. If a 
sufficient number of subscriptions can easily be had, 
all the Freeholders that have been before published will 
be reprinted to make the Sett printed here com pleat.' 

This number contained Nos. 27 and 28 of the 
Freeholder^ in addition to the Weekly Packet^ 
54 pages being devoted to the former, and the last 
page being blank. The issue for April 10, 1716, 
contained Nos. 29 and 30 of the Freeholder^ and 
No. 2 of the Weekly Packet. It changed the im- 
print to ** Edinburgh : printed for George Steuart, 
Bookseller, and sold at his shop. Anno Dom. 
MDCCXVI. Advertisements to be published in this 
paper are taken in at Mr. Steven*s Coffee House 
near the Cross, and at George Steuart, Bookseller, 
his shop." No advertisements, however, appeared 
in any numbers I have seen. What was likely 
No. 3, Tuesday, April 17, 1716, was prmted across 
the page, and had again a different imprint — 
** Printed for James Young, and sold at the 
Printing- House opposite to the Trone Church. 
Anno Dom. mdccxvi. Price three Halfpence." 
This imprint continued in all the remaining 
numbers I have seen. No. 3 contained No. 32 of 
the Freeholder and No. 3 of the Weekly Packet, 
No. 31 of the Freeholder did not appear, it being 
announced that it was being printed separately, 
and could be obtained for 3d. The following 
number admitted extracts from other news journals, 
the space devoted to the Weekly Packet being 
eleven lines only. This neglect of the Packet 
continued to the end. In all, I have seen numbers 
up to that for Tuesday, June 26, 1716. The 
London original came to an end on June 29, 1716. 
Addison started the Freeholder on December 23, 
1715, and fifty-five numbers in all were publis|ied. 
Its appearance was necessitated by the crisis in 
Whig politics caused by the Rising of the '15, and 
the Freeholder was meant to act in the defence of 
the party. So successful were his efforts that, a 
year after the journal was begun, Addison was 
rewarded with a Commissionership of Trade and 
Plantations. The paper was conducted with the 
greatest good humour, and its author 

"found opportunities to discuss the vagaries of the 

Female Sex, French Anglophobia, the treatment of 

authors, or his old topic of wit and humour. His 

methods of political persuasion, as illustrated in the 

case of the Tory Foxhunter (No. 47) were perhaps more 

successful than those of the most ardent members of 

his party, such as Steele, who preferred to drub the 

Jacobites into allegiance." 

In the matter of the Freeholder, Steele compared 

the voice of Addison to a lute, and his own to a 

trumpet. The Edinburgh edition ran up to No. 

41 of the London journal at least. 

26 Circus Drive, W. J. Couper. 

Glasgow. 



12 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[July, 1906 



EARLY VOLUNTEERING IN 
ABERDEEN. 



D. S. is, I understand, collecting materials for 
the history of our local Volunteer forces, which 
sooner or later must be written. D. S. may note 
that recently I overhauled the list of men who 
joined the Aberdeen City Artillery, now ist ' 
Aberdeenshire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volun- 
teers), and find the roll in a good state of preser- , 
vation. I recommend that the names of all I 
men who have joined the Volunteer force in 
Aberdeen be printed in full (omitting, of course, 
addresses and professions), with regimental 
number attached, the same as the corps muster 
books ; and that biographical notes on the 
officers of the respective corps be included where 
necessary, and dates of promotions be noted in 
full from the tim- of their joining the Colours. 
Thus : — " 2492. Charles Eraser Brodie, joined 
10th March, 1881 ; lieutenant, ist July, 1881 ; 
captain, i8th April, 1887 ; resigned, 14th May, 
1 890." 

Lord Cockburn, who died 26th April, 1854, 
aged 75, states in his entertaining diary en- 
titled "Circuit Journeys" (2nd edition, pub- 
lished 1889 by David Douglas, Edinburgh), at 
pp. 324-5, that, when he was Advocate- Depute, 
with Hope as Justice-Clerk, at Aberdeen (1808 
or 1809, I thinic), his lordship, after leaving the 
bench early, went and reviewed the Volunteers.' 
Ye>, the Judge of Assize doffed his wig, mounted 
a charger, and reviewed a regiment, and went 
forward next day on his circuit After a display 
on the field, he entertained the officers and 
the military authorities of the place at dinner. 
There probably never was so much scarlet or so 
many epaulettes at a judge's assize banquet 
before. It was a grand military day in Aber- 
deen, and entirely extinguished the poor glory 
of the Court. All this seems odd now. But 
the wonder will abate when we recollect that 
the reviewing Judge was an actual and most 
active Lieutenant-Colonel, and that though the 
judicious lamented this, the period permitted 
it. And indeed the judges, as representing the 
sovereign, had, and I fancy still have, a right to 
take the command of the military within the 
circuit town. This is not practised now, but it 
was uniformly practised since I remember. The 
judge was formally waited upon by the com- 
manding officer, or by some officer representing 
him, and asked for orders, and to give the pass- 
word for the day. I never knew the judge give 
any orders, but he very generally gave the word, 
and the daily military report was frequently 
made to him by an officer lowering his sword. 

Robert Murdoch. 



The Scots N.\me of Touch.— T"-*^ Times 
of May 25, (906, contains the following adver- 
tisement : — 

T George Alexander Touche, heretofore called 
^y and known by the name of George Alexander 
Touch, of 26, Collingham -gardens, London, S.W., 
and Basildon House, London, E.G., hereby give 
public notice that, with a view to preventing the 
ordinary mispronunciation of my surname, as well 
as reverting more closely to the original usage of the 
name (which, though written variously in the earliest 
Scots records, has most frequently the regulating 
final **e," or is otherwise so spelled as to indicate 
that it was pronounced as Touche), I have, by Royal 
Licence and Authority, varied the spelling thereof 
by the addition or restoration thereto of the letter 
'*e,"and intend henceforth upon all occasions to 
use the surname of Touche instead of Touch. 
Dated this 24th day of May, igo6. 

George A. Touche, formerly Touch. 



743. Grammar Schools. — Can anyone say when 
Aberdeen Grammar School was first built, if restored 
about the time of James IV., if still standing, and if 
not, if any pictorial representation is in existence ; 
if the grammar schools of Scotland were built more 
or less on one plan or style of architecture, and what 
might be accepted as a good or ideal type of such 
buildings? P. B., P. 

744. The Haigs of Bemersyde.— *'T. D. W." 
thus writes the editor of The Scottish Review^ 7th 
December, 1905 : — " Sir, — In my opinion, Thomas 
the Rh^mner was not so unwise as to tie himself to 
the saying that there would aye be Haig^ — meaning 
persons of that name — in or on Bemersyde. My 
reading of the saying is this: — 

" ' Betide, betide, whatever betide, 
There'll aye be Haig on Bemersyde.' 
" The common interpretation of this is that there 
always will be one of the Haig family in possession 
of the property. But ' haig ' or * hag ' in old Scots 
or Low Dutch also means a wood or coppice — for 
example, ' The Hague,' the capital of Holland, is so 
caHed from the wood which surrounds it. Anyone 
who looks at the semi-precipitous bank of Bemersyde 
overhanging the Tweed, on the face of which oak 
coppice or other bushes or small trees are always to 
be seen, and from which it is hardly possible to clear 
them, will see that Wise Thomas meant trees, not 
persons." This seems to be a very feasible explana- 
tion, of which I shall be glad to hear comments 
upon. The Rev. W. B. R. Wilson biographed eight 
of the illustrious Haigs in 2nd S., HL, 152. 

Robert Murdoch. 

745. Verses on Two Babes.— I shall be glad 
to be directed to the source whence the undernoted 
lines appeared. They are in the handwriting of 
Fred. G. Forsyth Grant, 3rd Lt. Dor., i860 (what 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



13 



regiment does this stand for?), and appear at the 
end ol a volume entitled *' Choice Notes from Notes 
and Queries Folk Lore." London: Bell & Daldy, 
i86 Fleet Street. 1859. Thus :— 

** Here lies two babes as dead as Knips, 
They was took off in ague fits ; 
They was too good to live with me, 
And so they have gone to live with He." 

Robert Murdoch. 

746. Rev. William Duncan. — Henry Gordon, 
Captain in the Marines, and son of the last laird of 
Terpersie, who was executed, married Jane Gordon 
of the Coynachie family. She is said to have been 
burned to death at Collethie about 1796. She married 
as her second husband " William Duncan, residing 
at Coldrain," who is mentioned in her will. Duncan ! 
is said to have been the son of the tenant of Drum- I 
bulg, and to have been a Navy Chaplain. W^hat is 
known of him ? J. M. Bulloch. 

747. John Gordon, Schoolmaster, Belhelvie. 
n the beginning of the eighteenth century there 
were two schoolmasters of this name, father and 
son, in Belhelvie. What is known of them ? 

J. M. Bulloch. 

748. William Mackay. — A poem in blank verse, 
entitled "Heaven," by William Mackay, was printed 
at Glasgow in 1847. It extends to ninety-five pages, 
and appears to be a juvenile performance, yet con- 
tains some good descriptive writing. One half of 
the poem consists of a survey of the globe and its 
different nationalities, India being specially noted. 
This part seems to me an amplification of James 
Montgomery's poetical ** Voyage round the World." 
Can any of your readers give an account of this 
William Mackay ? I thought at first that it might 
be the Rev. W. S. Mackay, a Thurso man, who was 
Free Church missionary to India under Dr. Duff, 
but as he went to India in 183 1 and died in Scotland 
in 1865, he cannot be *'the real Mackay" in question. 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



749. HuTTON, Hepburn, Lidderdale. — Would 
any readers of Scottish Notes and Queries tell me if 
the Huttons of that ilk came over with William the 
Conqueror, and where I could find their pedigree 
from that time ? My father was a Hutton ot that 
ilk ; my great-great-grandfather died at Berwick at 
the age of 100. Into which branch of Robertsons 
of Struan did Thomas Hutton marry in 1802 ? His 
wife was Janet Robertson, who had a brother Alex- 
ander. The maiden name of Janet's mother was 
Urquhart. I would like to trace her family. I 
would also like to learn about the family Hepburn. 
One daughter married Thomas Lidderdale of Castle 
Milk. They had one daughter, Maria. I possess 
their portraits. A Miss Fuller ton of Aberdeen (?) 
married James Lidderdale ; she would be my great- 
great-grandmother. I would also like to find her 



people. She died 25th August, 1772. Please reply 
direct to — 

I, Palliser Court, (Mrs.) E. C. Wirnholt. 

West Kensington, 

London. 

750. Cockburnspath. — Will any of the readers 
of Scottish Notes and Queries be good enough to 
mention some authority where I might find informa- 
tion regarding the origin and history of the village 
of Cockburnspath in Berwickshire, and also with 
reference to the estate of Dunglass on which the 
village is situated ? I should like to know something 
about the fine ruin of a chapel in the grounds of 
Dunglass, and also about the parish church and 
village cross. I have already consulted '* Statistical 
Account of Scotland," ** Antiquities of Scotland," 
"Gentlemen's Seats in Scotland," ** Topographical 
Dictionary of Scotland," and a few minor authorities, 
without being able to find anything about the cross 
in the village or the chapel, except the facts that it 
was a collegiate church built in 1450. 



21 Lilyhill Terrace, 
Edinburgh. 



W. J. Frost. 



751. Rev. J. Brichan, Botanist. — Who was 
the Rev. J. Brichan, frequently cited in Dickie's 
" Botanist's Guide " as supplying habitats of plants 
in the Deeside district ? J. W. H. T. 

752. Dr. Stephen, Botanist. — Who was Dr. 
Stephen, frequently cited in Dickie's *' Botanist's 
Guide" as supplying habitats of plants in the St. 
Cyrus district? J. W. H. T. 

753. Gordon of Kildrummy.— After the battle 
of Culloden, the Chevalier de Johnstone visited " Mr. 
Gordon of Kildrummy," a relation of Mrs. Menzies, 
Banff. Who was this Gordon ? Was he a Bel- 
dornie ? J. M. B. 

754. Lawrances in Usan. — Under the heading 
** Mary ton," Jervise, in his "Epitaphs and Inscrip- 
tions," Vol. I., p. 236, notes that William, son of 
William Lawrance, vintner, Usan, was drowned in a 
draw-well, October, 1787, aged 3 years : — 

Doth infant's pain and death proclaim, 

That Adam did rebel? 
His destiny declares the same, 

Being drowned in a well. 
Let all who mourn his early death 

Hate sin, the fatal cause, 
And flee to Jesus Christ by fiiith, 

Who saves from Satan's Jaws. 

Does the surname still survive in the locality ? 

Robert Murdoch. 

755. What is a *'Tap" or '♦ Tapion"?— It 
appears to be the name for part of the harness for 
the head of a horse, and occurs in old accounts: 
"Mending the six tapions for the horses* heads," and 
the manufacturer seems to have been known as a 
**tapion-maker.*' J. McG. 



14 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



QULY, 1906 



756. Curious Figures on a Tombstone. — In 
the churchyard of Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, there 
is a tombstone with the figures of Adam and Eve at 
the top, distinguished by the one having bushy hair 
and the other long and straight hair. At the lower 
end of the stone there are two skulls, one at the 
right side and the other at the left. Out of the 
right ear of one skull issues a short stem, to the end 
of which is attached something like the hand held 
sideways, extending along the whole side of the 
skull. The two together resemble in shape the 
vertical section of a mushroom placed horizontally 
with the root in the ear. A similar excrescence 
issues from the left ear of the other skull. Query — 
What do such excrescences represent, and are there 
similar skulls in other churchyards ? 

John Milne, LL.D. 

757. Barbara Gordon (Mrs. Farquhar). — In 
Mortlach Churchyard there is an inscription — "Here 
lies the dust of Alexander Farquhar, who lived at 
Priestwell, and died May 22, 1733, aged 76 years ; 
and of Barbara Gordon, his spouse, who died 
November, 1736, aged 70." To what family of 
Gordons did she belong? 

758. Buchanan Hospital. — Such is the name 
of a charitable institution at St. Leonards-on-Sea, 
County Sussex. As our English brethren are not in 
the habit of calling public buildings after any Scot 
without sufficient reason, I feel assured that there is 
a certain and almost unknown story of some scion 
of the clan involved in the Buchanan Hospital. 
Who was this Buchanan ? Alba. 

Melbourne, Anstralia. 



Hnswers. 



605. Lanark Lanimer Day (2nd S., VII., 30, 
48). — In The Scots Pictorial, Vol. I., 19th June, 1897, 
pp. 308.309, an interesting note on this custom is 
given, illustrated by ten excellent photographs by 
Arch. Brown & Co., Lanark. The capital of the 
Upper Ward is one of the ancient burghs that keep 
up the custom of riding the marches, and the pagean- 
try for which that annual event affords the occasion 
was that year more elaborate than ever. The feature 
of it at one time was ** the birks," or band of young 
stalwarts of the town and neighbourhood, bearing 
branches of trees, that marched in procession with 
the representatives of the various trades. But of late 
years the juvenile element has been worked up, till 
the children's part in the parade is one of the most 
prominent. The ceremony winds up on the east side 
of the town — to which it is practically confined — by 
a general adjournment to the moor, where the sports 
and all the fun of the fair goes on. 

Robert Murdoch. 

71(5. Border Haswells (2nd S., VIL, 156, 172). 
— Long assigns to Haswell the meaning of " spring 



among hazel bushes," and connects it with such 
personal names as Haslam and Hazlitt It would 
appear to be a territorial rather than a personal 
designation. Haswellsykes, sometimes spelt Hass- 
wellsykes, is, I understand, a farm in Manor parish, 
Peeblesshire, which was tenanted about fifty years 
ago by a Mr. Robert Tod. I have failed to connect 
any family called Haswell with the county, and 
believe that, as far as Peeblesshire is concerned, the 
place-name preceded the personal designation. The 
earliest Haswell, as far as I have seen, appeared at 
Dundee in 1602, and shortly thereafter the name 
emerged in Roxburghshire, being rather common in 
Crailing parish during the seventeenth century. 

W. 

718. Parody op "Bonnie Dundee" (2nd S., 
VII., 136, 156, 176). — I would refer R. D. to Mr. 
P. J. Anderson's query, No. 436, page 172, Vol. V., 
2nd S., as probably the reference he is searching for. 
I may add that the reputed parodist. Dr. Peter 
Smith, died 9th December, 1900, aged 62. (See 
Free Press, 29th January, 1900.) Ed. 

721. Hay of Monkton (2nd S., VII., 172). — In 
the ** Edinburgh Register of Testaments," 1601-1700, 
two Hays of Monkton are mentioned — George, of 
Monkton, parish of Inveresk, whose will bears date 
28th September, 1625, and Alexander, whose will is 
dated 24th January, 1674. Among persons recorded 
in the *' Register of Interments in Greyfriars, Edin- 
burgh," occurs the name of Mr. Alexander Hay, 
writer, whose burial took place nth November, 1692. 
Information about the Hay family generally may be 
obtained from •' Historical Account of the Family of 
Hay of Leys," Edinburgh, 1832, privately printed ; 
from Father Hay's *' Genealogie of the Hays of 
Tweeddale," edited by Maidment, Edinburgh, 1835 ; 
and from *' Andrew Hay's Diary," edited by Reid, 
one of the publications of the Scottish History 
Society. Reference may also be made to Brunton 
of Haig's ** Senators of the College of Justice," 
Edinburgh, 1832, and to the *' Estimate of the Scot- 
tish Nobility during the Minority of James VI.," 
edited by Rogers —a volume issued under the auspices 
of the Grampian Club. W. 

724. Volunteer Officers of 1794-1808 (2nd 
S., VII., 172). — If any portraits ot Sheriff Moir are 
still in existence, such books as Gill's ** Family of 
Moir and Byres," Aberdeen, 1885, or Dr. Walker's 
" Commonty of Perwinnes, called also Scotstown 
Moor," might perhaps help to trace them out. 
Sheriff Moir, I understand, was the father of George 
Moir, Professor of Scots Law in Edinburgh Univer- 
sity. The present head of the house of Bannerman 
of Elrick is, I believe, a descendent of Thomas 
Bannerman named in the query, and might possibly 
be willing to afford information as to his ancestor's 
portraits. Colonel Finlason I take to be identical 
with an Aberdeenshire proprietor whose name 
appears in county lists towards the close of the 
eighteenth century, but am extremely doubtful 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



15 



whether any portrait of him may still be extant. 
The same remark applies to Alexander Tower of 
Ferryhill, whose brief Parliamentary career as mem- 
ber for Berwickon-Tweed lasted only about a year. 

W. 

735. Lieutenant Alexander Stuart (2nd S., 
VIL, 173). — The 89th Regiment, originally raised 
in the Highlands, is now an Irish company, and 
bears the name of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. In 
Browne's *' History of the Highlands and Highland 
Clans," IV., 281, it is stated that, in 1759, Alexander 
Stewart of Lismurdie was one of the lieutenants in 
the 89th Foot. He is probably identical with the 
Lieutenant Alexander Stuart of the query. Cor- 
roborative evidence or otherwise may perhaps be 
obtained by consulting ** Historical Record of the 
89th or Royal Irish Fusiliers,'* London, 1842, and 
** Historical Record of the 89th (Princess Victoria) 
Regiment," by Captain Brinckman, London, 1888. 

■S. 

730. Mariota Dunbar (2nd S., VII., 173, 191). 
— Mariota or Marjory Dunbar was a daughter of a 
brother of Bishop Gavin Dunbar. I think this must 
be Gavin Dunbar, Bishop of Aberdeen, and not his 
nephew and namesake who was Bishop of Glasgow. 

J. M. A. W. 

732. Subject Superiors Wanted (2nd S.,VII., 
173, 191). — No doubt, to a dweller in the shire of 
Banff, the land- names mentioned in this query are 
as " household words," or like 

** the sweet south 
That breathes amid a bank of violets " ; 

but to an outlander, unacquainted with the country, 
they are apt to induce a feeling of astonishment 
mingled with awe. Even a recent issue of " Slater's 
Directory" fails to help the removal of one's 
chastened solemnity. That invaluable publication 
reveals indeed the existence of three different places 
called Leitcheston, but is obstinately silent with re- 
gard to any of the others, unless we are allowed to 
identify Auchinreath with Auchinraith of the query. 
The period when the superiorities existed is also 
somewhat vague. Does it mean present time, or 
during last century, or even earlier ? Taking for 
granted that an earlier date is intended, one may 
venture the supposition that, towards the close of 
the eighteenth century, the Duke of Gordon may 
probably have been the superior of Leitcheston, that 
Cosmo Gordon of Cluny may perhaps have been 
overlord of Clunybeg, and that the other places 
mentioned fell under the jurisdiction of Lord Fife, 
who at that date was by far the largest landowner in 
the county. Perplexity. 

733. Jonet Kirk (2nd S., VII., 173).— The Scot- 
tisn Kirks are descended from David Kirk, a valiant 
burgess of Edinburgh, who fell fighting for his coun- 
try's liberty in 1549, and whose brother, a Romish 
priest, was strongly suspected of leanings towards 
the Protestant religion. Of the same family, among 



several who became Protestant clergymen there 
were two ministers of Aberfoyle in Perthshire, father 
and son, the younger of whom was noted for learn- 
ing, and is traditionally believed to have been carried 
off by the fairies. Jonet Kirk, in all likelihood, was 
one of the Scottish Kirks. The English branch of 
the family frequently spell the name with a final 
<?— Kirke. Colonel Percy Kirke of Kirke's Lambs 
(said to have been the son of a gentleman in atten- 
dance on King Charles), who emerged from obscurity 
at Tangier, blossomed into notoriety during Mon- 
mouth's rebellion, and fell into merited oblivion after 
the relief of Londonderry — was almost certainly an 
Englishman. His Christian name, Percy, and 
savage character, as pictured by Macaulay, render 
it extremely improbable that any kindly blood of the 
Scottish Kirks flowed in his veins. S. 

734. Aberdeen Painters (2nd S., VII., 173). — 
May I take the liberty of suggesting that the persons 
named in this query were what might be called house 
painters and decorators rather than artists in the 
strict sense of the word ? It is difficult otherwise to 
account for the oblivion that has settled over their 
names. W. 

735. Robert Colvile (2nd S., VII., 173). — I am 
not aware that the lines quoted have appeared any- 
where else. As suggested in the query, Colvill of 
Hiltoun, who fell at Flodden, was in all probability 
the author of the lines. S. 



736. Ballad on the Battle of Bannockburn 
(2nd S., VII., 174). — John Nicholson, Kirkcudbright, 
was much more than a mere printer of chap-books. 
He was an enterprising publisher at a period when 
the issue of anything more ambitious than a 2 pp. 
newspaper from a small country town was something 
of a phenomenon. Two books at least — issued from 
his press in the early forties of last century — are now 
somewhat eagerly sought after. As an author, he 
was known as an antiquary and local historian, but, 
as far as I am aware, never aspired to poetry, or even 
rhyme, being, no doubt, a man of sense, and recog- 
nising his limitations in this direction. The only 
thing one feels tolerably certain about in this query 
is that the chap-book entitled ** Robert de Bruce's 
Garland" was not composed by Nicholson. His 
brother might have written it, but the theme lies 
quite outside William's vein. Old chap-book* com- 
pilers were seldom very scrupulous about the use 
they made of earlier productions. It is possible that 
the chap-book in question was a mutilated or mangled 
version of Barbour or of Harvey. It may even have 
been an attempt — not very successful, as one gathers 
— to translate from the Latin Baston's panegyric 
on Bruce. On such a subject it is impossible to 
speak with confidence without knowing how the 
verse reads. But at all events, compared with the 
identification of chap-book writers, the search for the 
proverbial needle in the bundle of hay would be a 
pleasant recreation. S. 



i6 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[July, 1906 



742. Provost Brown of Aberdeen and the 
Edinburgh Weekly Journal (2nd S., VII., 190).— 
In a note to a fearfully interleaved copy of my 
** Aberdeen Awa'," opposite p. 7, I find this in- 
serted: — **In 1807 the Edinburgh Weekly Journal 
was exposed for sale. It began in 1744, and William 
Smellie became its editor, 1767. Its circulation was 
1,500. Its receipts were: Sales ;f2,390, advertising 
;f 1,055— total £'i'A55\ profits, ;f6oo. Mr. Wm. 
Blackwood of Edinburgh and Mr. A. Brown of 
Aberdeen jointly offered £"1,830 for the property, 
but it was purchased by James Ballantyne, who 
expected the aid of Sir Walter Scott, and got it. 
In it were the letters of Malachi Malagrowther and 
portions of the Waverley Novels. It ceased in 1848. 
(See Norrie's "Edinburgh Newspapers," p. 20.) 
That the shrewd Wm. Blackwood and Mr. Alexander 
Brown, of Aberdeen, should have been combined in 
this adventure bespeaks mutual confidence in each 
other, and in the value of the property which Ballan- 
tyne acquired." George Walker. 



Xtterature. 



The Scottish Clans and their Tartans^ with 
Notes. Small 8vo. Edinburgh and London : 
W. & A. K. Johnston, Limited. 1906. 2s. 6d. 

The abiding interest pertaining to the tartans 
and clan literature in general is the reason of 
the appearance of an eighth edition of the above 
handy work. This edition has been carefully 
revised and brought down to date by that en- 
thusiast, Mr. Henry Whyte (" Fio.in "), Glasgow, 
whose name is a sufficient guarantee that it will 
prove a reliable and trustworthy guide on the 
subject. 

Besides a map of Scotland showing the dis- 
tribution of the clans in the sixteenth century, 
there are included ninety-six fine illustrations of 
tartans, which add so greatly to the permanent 
interest and value of the new edition before us. 
Its further value would be greatly enhanced 
were the publishers to include a bibliography 
of clan and regimental literature, a project, 
perhaps, they may keep in view. 

Inverness in the Fifteenth Century, I?y Evan 
M. Barron. R. Carruthers & Sons, Publishers, 
Inverness. 1906. [129 pp., crown 8vo. Price 

2S.] 

This volume enjoys the advantage of having 
been partly rehearsed as public lectures, and of 
having been already printed in the columns of 
the Inverness Courier, The author is duly and 
rightly impressed with the ancient importance 
of Inverness among the towns of the North. In 



his earlier chapters Mr. Barron has had to adopt 
a somewhat conjectural tone, but later, with the 
substantial help of ihe "Exchequer Rolls of 
Scoiland''and several other important sources of 
information, he has succeeded in investing his 
narrative with a large amount of living interest. 
Treated in the same way, the author may be 
safely encouraged to continue his historical 
researches somewhat further. The materials 
continue abundant. The volume is well got up, 
and is fully indexed. 



Scots £ooft9 of tbe /IDontb. 



Allaben, Frank. Concerning Genealogies: being 
Suggestions of Value for ail interested in Family 
History. Crown 8vo. 3s. Eliot Stock. 

Johnston, Q, Harvey. Heraldry of the Stewarts, 
with Notes on all the Males of the Family, Des- 
criptions of the Arms, Plates, and Pedigrees. 
With 8 Heraldic Plates in Gold and Colour. 4to. 
Net, los. 6d. (Only 175 copies printed for sale,) 

W. & A. K. Johnston, Ltd. 

Macleod of Alacleod, Rev. R. C. The 

Macleods: a Short Sketch of their Clan, History, 
Folk-lore, Tales, and Biographical Notes of some 
Eminent Clansmen. 7 Illustrations. 8vo. Net, 
IS. 6d. Edinburgh : Clan Macleod Society. 

Moncrieff, R. A. Hope. The Highlands and 
Islands of Scotland. Painted by Wm. Smith, Jun. 
40 Illustrations and Map. 4to. Net, los. 

A. & C. Black. 

Morris, Henry. The Life of John Murdoch, 
LL.D. 8vo. Net, 3s. 6d. 
London : Christian Literature Society for India. 

Shaw, William A., Litt.D. The Knights of 
England. 2 Vols. Large 4to. Net, 42s. (Several 
Gordons mentioned.) Sherratt & Hughes. 

Sinton, Rev. Thomas (Minister of Dores). The 
Poetry of Badenoch : collected and edited, with 
Translations, Introductions, and Notes. Crown 
8vo. Net, 25s. 
Inverness : 

The Northern Counties Printing Co., Ltd. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. Ed. 



Printed and Published at The Rosemount PresB, Aberdeen. 
Literaiy comiuunicatiuiis should be addressed to the Bditor, 
23 06i:>ome Place, Aberdeen; AdvertisementB and Buaineas 
Letters to the Publishers, Farmer's Uall Lane, Aoerdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Vol. VIII. 1 IVf o ^ 
2nd Series. J ^^^' ^' 



August, 1906. 



iU80IBTERED{gf«pM. ^_ 



CONTENTS. 
Nonw :— Paob 

Forfarshire at a Factor in Scottish Life and ThouRht 17 

Inedited Poems by Leyden 21 

An Act Naturalizing a Qordon 23 

The Cant Family 24 

Royal Visits to Aberdeen 25 

Some Galloway Macs 27 

MiNOE Notes:— 

Cabrach Gordons 21 

The Borestone a "Boar Stone "—" Brown's Deeside 

Guide" 22 

Marshal Keith 23 

Cod bear— Rev. William Lensk— Anecdote of Napoleon 26 

" Crawdoun " 28 

Queries :— 

Sir Hugh Halcrow- Grace before Meat — Adam 

Donald— James Clyde, LL.D.— Glasgow Book 28 

George Blair, M. A.— Moses Provan— Neil McAlpine 

— Bemardus Paludanna — James Murdoch, Author 29 

Answers :— 

Leading Apes— Parody of " Bonnie Dundee— Barclay 

of Ury— •• The Silver Eel" 29 

Volunteer Officers of 1794-1808— Stewart or Stuart 

Family— The Battles of Preston, Falkirk, and 

Culloden — Provost Brown of Aberdeen and the 

Edinburgh Weekly JowrruxZ— Grammar Schools. . . 30 

Verses on Two Babes— Hutton, Hepburn, Lidderdale 

— Cockbumspath— Rev. J. Brichan, Botanist 31 

Dr. Stephen, Botanist 32 

Uterat u re 32 

Soots Books op the Month 32 



ABERDEEN, AUGUST, igo6. 



FORFARSHIRE AS A FACTOR IN 
SCOTTISH LIFE AND THOUGHT. 

The readers of the essays which I have contri- 
buted to this periodical are aware that I believe 
I have established the fact that among the Scot- 
tish counties there is a select group of seven 
which conspicuously outdistance their fellows in 
respect to the number of notable persons bom 
within their bounds. Forty years ago, when I 
first classified the Scottish counties on the prin- 
ciple indicated above, I found that the same 
seven counties, which at present constitute this 



select group, occtipied almost precisely the same 
position as they hold to-day, although at that 
time the notables appearing on my county list 
were only 1,200 strong, as compared with the 
huge host of 11,025 names that figure there 
to-day. No doubt the order of precedence en- 
joyed by several of these counties has varied 
from time to time during the forty years and 
more in which my investigations have been 
going on. Thus, in 1866, this order stood as 
follows : — I. Edinburgh ; 2. Aberdeen ; 3. Lan- 
ark; 4. Fife ; 5. Ayr; 6. Perth ; 7. Forfar. To- 
day, when I have almost ten times as many 
names to classify as those whose birthplaces 1 
had identified in 1866, I find that the order 
in which the seven premier counties now range 
themselves, when classified relatively to their 
comparative fertility in men of distinction, differs 
astonishingly little from the order which they 
followed at that early date in my researches into 
Ihe subject. Thus, if I may so express myself, 
the order of merit which at present prevails 
among Scotland's seven premier counties stands 
as follows : — 

1. Edinburgh with 1,203 notables. 

2. Aberdeen with 1,141 notables. 

3. Lanark with 869 notables. 

4. Ayr with 755 notables. 

5. Fife with 728 notables. 

6. Forfar with 715 notables. 

7. Perth with 661 notables. 

This is an interesting and suggestive fact, and 
seems to me strongly to confirm my belief in 
the general accuracy of the conclusions which 
I have reached and which at various times I 
have set forth in the pages of this journal. In 
this connection, may I venture to draw the 
attention of my readers to a further remarkable 
corroboration of my whole position in regard to 
this question which is contained in a number of 
carefully compiled statistics published last year 
by Mr. George Stronach, of Edinburgh, in that 
admirable religious and literary weekly called 
T/ie Scottish Review, In the course of some 
half-dozen articles, Mr Stronach surveys and 
analyses the respective contributions of all the 
Scottish shires to the national muster roll of 



i8 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



eminence in all departments of intellectual merit 
and achievement. His survey is, of course, 
more restricted than mine, and is carried out 
moreover on principles not exactly identical 
with those that have guided me. Nevertheless, 
having taken the trouble to sum up the total 
results obtained by him in his analysis of the 
six varieties of Scottish talent and achievement 
whose representative men he has traced to their 
natal counties, it has gratified me exceedingly 
to discover that the order of merit of his seven 
premier counties is almost exactly that which I 
have stated above. Thus, he puis — 

Edinburgh first with 413 notables ; 
Aberdeen second with 345 notables ; 
Lanark third with 265 notables ; 
Forfar fourth with 205 notables ; 
Ayr fifth with 203 notables ; 
Fife sixth with 200 notables ; 
Perth seventh with 1 56 notables. 

I cannot help thinking that a fact like that I 
have just stated imparts a solidity and a sense 
of trustworthiness to the claim which I have so 
often preferred on behalf of Scotland's seven 
premier counties that few or none of my readers 
will be inclined to canvass or resist. 

I do not, however, expect the same general 
agreement with my views when I proceed once 
more to elaborate the theory which, in default 
of a better, I am still inclined to propound, as 
tending to explain, if it does not fully account 
for, the intellectual superiority which some Scot- 
tish districts exhibit over others in respect to 
their relative productiveness of men of mark. I 
assume, of course, that my readers are familiar 
with the general outline of my views on this 
matter, and therefore that they know that I 
believe that we have a rational and credible 
ground for thinking that the natives of each of 
Scotland's seven premier counties, apart alto- 
gether from any question of original racial 
superiority, or of present social advantages 
which they may be supposed to possess over 
the natives of other Scottish counties, have, all 
of them, as contrasted with regions less relatively 
fertile in intellectual power, been called upon to 
make special sacrifices and to perform unique 
services on behalf of those particular ideals of 
life and duty which from time to time have 
gained the hearts and commanded the intellects 
of the Scottish people as a whole, and that to 
this fact I ascribe their pre-eminence over their 
fellows. 

In opposition to this view, it is, of course, 
open to the objector to remark, as it has been 
more than once remarked to myself, that it is 
not surprising to find the prominent place as 



regards their notable men occupied by the seven 
counties I have described as so conspicuously 
outdistancing their fellows in intellectual pro- 
ductiveness, seeing that they are all among the 
largest as well as the most populous of Scottish 
counties. But, while I do not deny that there 
is some force in the objection just stated, never- 
theless I believe it is a mistake to exaggerate 
its importance. Thus, while it is true that, as 
regards their superficial area, three of my elect 
group of Scottish counties do appear among the 
seven Scottish counties that are territorially the 
largest, viz., Perth, Aberdeen and Ayr, which 
rank respectively fourth, sixth, and seventh as 
regards the matter of their size, yet it should be 
borne in mind that the four really largest Scot- 
tish counties all belong to the Highlands, are 
inhabited almost exclusively by Celts, and are 
represented by Inverness, the largest of all, by 
Argyll, which ranks second in superficial area, 
and by Ross and Sutherland, which rank re- 
spectively third and fifth in this particular. It 
is, moreover, worth noticing that not one of 
these counties, with the exception of Argyll, has 
produced relatively either to its size or its 
population as many notables as, all things being 
equal, we might reasonably have expected from 
it. On the other hand, it is equally note- 
worthy that four of that group of Scottish 
counties which my statistics show to have been 
pre-eminently worthy alike intellectually and 
spiritually, are seen, when considered in relation 
to their superficial area, to occupy a position 
relatively very low, Forfar, for example, ranking 
only tenth, Lanark eleventh, Fife sixteenth, and 
Edinburgh twenty-second in this respect. 

On the other hand it must be admitted that, 
when considered from the point of view of their 
relative populousness, a stronger case may be 
made out on behalf of this objection above 
indicated. For it is undoubtedly true that at 
the last census, and, indeed, at every census 
taken since 1801 as well as in 1755 ^^^ i79o-Sy 
at least six of my elect counties have always 
figured among the first seven most populous 
Scottish counties. These six, it is true, have 
not always been the same counties. Thus, in 
connection with an estimated census taken by 
the parish ministers of Scotland in 1755 ^^^ 
again in 1790-8, Ayrshire ranked in the one 
instance eighth and in the other ninth on the 
list of Scottish counties as regards the number 
of its inhabitants. On the other hand, it is an 
interesting fact that from 1801, the date of the 
first imperial census, up till 1831, my elect seven 
counties and the most populous seven turn out 
to be the same. In 1831, however, a change 
occurred. For, relatively to its population, Fife 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



19 



in that year slipped down to the eighth place, 
while Renfrew took the seventh place, a place 
which that county has not only since held, but 
has improved. Thus, at the last census in 1901 
Renfrew ranked fifth among the counties of 
Scotland as regards its population, while Perth 
had altogether fallen out of the group, a con- 
dition of things which, so far as that county is 
concerned, has prevailed ever since 1841, at which 
date Fife was restored to its former place of 
honour, while Perth contemporaneously stepped 
down from its pedestal. It is not, therefore, 
solely due to their populousness that the seven 
counties, which I am wont to reckon among 
Scotland's elect counties, occupy the prominent 
position that ihey do. 

I have already shown, in my essays on Ayr, 
Aberdeen, and Berwick, that one at least of the 
causes, and, in my judgment, not the least 
important of the causes, producing the nobler 
type of manhood discovered in these counties 
has probably, if not certainly, been the large part 
which at certain critical moments in the nation's 
history was taken by the natives of these dis- 
tricts in the toils and sacrifices, the martyrdoms 
and conflicts by which our political and religious 
liberties have been gained and maintained. If 
I can show, therefore, that in the case of Forfar- 
shire also a similar state of things prevails, I 
will have gone at least some length to corro- 
borate the general position which, as the result 
of a prolonged study of Scottish history and 
Scottish biography, I have come to take up. 

Now, this claim on behalf of Forfarshire is one 
which I will have no difHculty in establishing. 
For no one can carefully scrutinise a work like 
the " Historic Scenes in Forfarshire," by the 
late Dr. Marshall of Coupar--A.ngus, or like "The 
Land of the Lindsays," by Dr. Jervise, or Alex- 
ander Warden's " History of Forfarshire," with- 
out being deeply impressed with the notable and 
influential part in our national history that has 
been played alike by the leaders of the people 
identified with this district and by the rank and 
file that followed them. For there is not a 
parish in the county which is not by these 
writers shown to hold the site of some ancient 
battlefields, or of some old castles and houses, 
full of historical interest and recalling the names 
and renown of families whose characters and 
achievements tended to the fate and influenced 
the feelings of the whole nation, while the books 
themselves are replete with ancedotes of memor- 
able incidents, resulting from party strife or 
connected with desperate attempts to keep or 
regain power, and entailing the rismg and falling 
of families or of private individuals as they 
followed the ruling spirits of the times. And 



no one, I am sure, can read these volumes with 
open mind and not come to the conclusion that 
both the county and the people there delineated 
have strongly marked characteristics of their 
own. Specially I think this is seen to be true 
of the people. For there is a striking and 
enduring individuality everywhere discernible in 
the literature dealing with the men of Angus, 
an individuality which the peculiarity of their 
dialect tends to accentuate. This fact comes 
out with a photographic intensity that is abso- 
lutely demonstrative in the writmgs of perhaps 
the greatest of living Scots novelists, himself a 
native of Angus, and the popular delineator of 
the social life of Thrums. For who can read 
the graphic sketches of character with which 
every one of Mr. Barrie's books is filled without 
recognising that the district which can produce 
men and women of the robust and abiding 
individuality therein depicted must be one 
which, beyond many in Scotland, is inhabited 
by a race of rare distiuction and force of 
character. 

Into the causes that have developed the out- 
spoken candour, the intrepid honesty, the shy 
and proud self-respect, the tender pathos, the 
overflowing humour, and the strong sagacity 
and hard, common sense that are so abundant 
among the people of this shire, I cannot enter 
at length. But I think it worth while observing 
that the soil of Forfarshire bears token, as few 
Scottish shires do, to the number and variety of 
the races that at different times have occupied 
it. Thus, no other Scottish county, I believe, 
contains so many memorials of vanished races. 
The strange weems or underground residences, 
the homes of a long-forgotten tribe of troglo- 
dytes, are here both more numerous and in 
better preservation than in any other part of 
Scotland. Then there are Roman and British 
camps in considerable numbers and in excellent 
condition. Vitrified forts, too, are still to be 
met with on many of the hillsides, and the 
cromlechs and Druid circles, which point back 
to the religious rites of our ancient Celtic and 
Pictish forefathers, are by no means uncommon. 
Then, again, there are antiquaries who hold that 
in the strange, undeciphered sculptured stones 
which are particularly plentiful in this district 
we have indication of the conquest of this region 
by an early and now-forgotten race, who, per- 
haps, first brought the arts of agriculture into 
these valleys, and dispossessed the nomadic 
tribes of hunters and fishers by whom they were 
originally occupied. Personally, however, I must 
remark here that I altogether dissent from the 
view I have just indicated, believing, as I do, 
with most recent writers on this subject, that 



20 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



these stones are really memorials of the early 
Christian period in Scotland, and that they are 
the product of the art of the Picts as affected by 
the religious influences communicated to them 
by the Culdee or Scottish missionaries by whom 
the Gospel was introduced into the North of 
Scotland. Certain at least it is that we have 
in Brechin, and particularly in the Round Tower 
of that ancient town, evident traces of the exist- 
ence there of a former seat of the Culdee faith 
and worship, while in the numerous sculptured 
stones found in Aberlemno, Arbroath, St. 
Vigeans, Menmuir, and other parishes we have 
tokens of the hold which at a comparatively 
early period ihe Culdee missionaries obtained 
over the rude Pictish tribes who occupied the 
territory between the Tay and the Spey. Finally 
here, I would remark that there is not a parish 
on the Angus seaboard which has not memories 
of the constant Danish and Norse invasions 
which, from the eighth to the eleventh century, 
led to so many bloody conflicts between the 
inhabitants of those seaside regions and these 
fierce Vikings. Every parish here had, indeed, 
its own battlefield, in which sometimes the Scots 
and sometimes the Danes are said to have pre- 
vailed, while the invading Angle or Saxon, too, 
has no less indelibly given proof of his un- 
welcome presence. For, in the parish of Dun- 
nichen, the site of a great battle is still pointed 
out, in which Egfrid, King of the Angles of 
Northumbria, was defeated and slain in the year 
685. Similarly, the later rivalry between the 
Scots and the Picts which closed in the victory 
of the former ; and the blending of both king- 
doms under the sceptre of Kenneth M*Alpine 
has also stamped its memories behind it in the 
sites of battles fought at Auchterhouse, Re- 
stennet, Rescobie, and elsewhere in the shire. 
It is quite clear, therefore, that during the long, 
dark ages in which the diverse hostile tribes 
and races that ultimately united to form the 
present Scottish nation were wrestling together 
for predominance, this little nook of Scottish 
soil had probably more than its share of the 
agony of the strife, and certainly saw as much 
as any other Scottish shire did of " the drums 
and tramplings" that preceded and led up to 
the final consolidation of the Scottish kingdom 
in the line of Kenneth. 

But, deep as must have been the impression 
left on the people of this region by the strenuous 
and anxious life that, as I have shown, they were 
forced for many pre-historic centuries to lead, 
yet personally I have been in the habit of thinking 
that it was not in these early ages, but rather 
in the conflict which for three centuries Scotland 
carried on against the superior might of Eng- 



land, that the Scottish people gained, as a race, 
that unconquerable will, that spirit of patient and 
resolute self-denial, and that capacity alike for 
labour and for sacrifice which have made them 
play so large and worthy a part in the subse- 
quent development and expansion of the British 
Empire. And in this connection I reckon it as 
a considerable confirmation of my views that For- 
farshire, though far removed from the Border- 
land, which was the chief scene of the strife 
between the two countries, yet took a very active 
part in the whole course of this protracted con- 
flict. The patriot Wallace, it is well known, 
obtained much of his early training in Dundee, 
in this shire, and it was here, too, that he gave 
the first sign of his being the destined deliverer 
of his country. For, on being rudely insulted 
by young Selby, the son of the English governor 
of that town, the high-spirited Scottish youth, 
unable to brook such insolence, rose upon his 
oppressor, and in an instant the haughty 
Southron lay at the hero's feet bleeding and 
dying. From that hour Wallace was the sworn 
foe of the tyrant oppressors of his native land, 
and, beginning immediately thereafter, his career 
as a guerilla leader of other men as desperate 
enemies of the English as himself, in two years' 
time he was able to return to the captive town 
where he had been so roughly used, and to 
liberate it from its bonds. I may add here that 
among the Scottish hero's most gallant sup- 
porters was a native of Dundee, Alexander 
Scrimgeour by name, . whom Wallace made 
Hereditary Constable of Scotland as a reward 
for his services. Nor was this the only Forfar- 
shire scene in which noble deeds were done 
during the War of Independence : almost every 
important town in Angus has its own stirring 
memories in connection with the strife, for 
they were all both taken and re-taken more 
than once in the course of the conflict, while, as 
is well known, it was in the Abbey of Arbroath, 
in 1320, that Robert the Bruce held that Parlia- 
ment which so nobly declared Scotland's inde- 
pendence and embodied the declaration in a 
remonstrance to the Pope, the reading of which 
is said to have made even that haughty ecclesi- 
astic tremble. The remonstrance was written 
by Bernard of Linton, then Chancellor of Scot- 
land and Abbot of Arbroath. As is well-known, 
the occasion of the remonstrance was the action 
of the Pope on behalf of the English king. For 
Edward II., having in vain attempted to subdue 
Scotland by force, had, it seems, sought, and 
not unsuccessfully, to enlist the Church of Rome 
on his side. The Pope suffered himself to be 
bribed, and, for the sake of England's gold, the 
servile and venal John XXII. made himself the 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



21 



ready tool of England's ambition. He com- 
manded a two years' truce between England 
and Scotland, studiously, however, withholding 
from Bruce the title of king. That monarch, 
therefore, disrejjarded the truce when it was 
proclaimed, alleging that the Robert Bruce 
addressed might be some person among his 
barons who bore the same name as himself, 
and that, at all events, he could receive no 
communication that was not addressed to him- 
self personally under the title of king. Enraged 
at such high-spirited conduct, the Holy Father 
then emitted the thunder of his excommuni- 
cation against Bruce and his adherents. But 
this act only roused the indignation of Scotland 
to the highest pitch, and the Parliament of 1320 
gave voice to it in a manifesto whose terms 
and tones yet awaken responsive echoes in the 
bosom of all their descendants worthy of such a 
parentage. 1 have no space to give a full 
analysis of this memorable State document, but 
I must find room for its closing words, where, 
after avowing their determination to stand by 
their crowned king as their rightful sworn lord 
so long as he continues to champion their 
national independence, the lords and barons in 
Parliament assembled proceed emphatically to 
declare that if their king should fail them in 
this matter they would at once disown him and 
renounce their allegiance. For, said they, "If 
he should show an inclination to subject us or 
our kingdom to the King of England or to his 
people, then we declare that we shall use our 
utmost effort to expel him from the throne as our 
enemy and the subverter of his own and of our 
right, and we will chose another king to reign 
over us, who will be able to defend us, for as 
long as a hundred Scotsmen are left alive we 
will never be subject to the dominion of Eng- 
land. It is not for glory, riches, or honour that 
we fight, but for that liberty which no good man 
will consent to lose but with his life." 

(To be continued). 



INEDITED POEMS BY LEYDEN. 



Cabr.\ch Gordons.— Charles Gordon of the 
Reekimlane (or, rather, Daugh family), who was 
educated at the Grammar School, Aberdeen, is 
married to Isabella Grant, daughter of Major 
William Grant, j.P., distiller, Balvenie House, 
Dufftown, and represents that firm in Black- 
bum. He has — 



William Grant Gordon. 
Janet Sheed (Gordon. 
Elizabeth Grant Gordon. 



J. M. B. 



In the centenary edition of Leyden's poems 
(1875), undertaken by Mr. Thomas Brown for 
the Edinburgh Borderers' Union, it is stated to 
be "an issue of his complete poetical works." 
I do not think that it can fairly claim to be that, 
for I miss several pieces by the great Orientalist 
which should have been there. First of all, 
Leyden's droll epistle to Scott, written at Lon- 
don in January, 1803, descriptive of an interview 
with Mr. George Ellis, the antiquary and editor 
of "Early English Romances." It is a clever 
imitation of one of those metrical tales of the 
fourteenth century which Ellis had recently 
published. As Lockhart, a very fastidious man, 
had inserted it in his " Life of Sir Walter Scott," 
it ought to have been included in a complete 
edition of Leyden's verse. Then, again, there 
are the verses to Mrs. Buller, written in Calcutta 
in 181 1, the year of his death in Java. I copy 
them from Froude's " Life of Carlyle," Vol. I. — 
probably they were transcribed by Carlyle him- 
self when acting as tutor to Charles Buller, who 
was born in Calcutta. Leyden compliments the 
lady thus : — 

On Seeing Mrs. Buller in a Highland 

Dress. 

That bonnet*s pride, that tartan's flow, 
My soul with wild emotion fills ; 

Methinks I see in fancy's glow 
A princess from the Land of Hills. 

Oh for a fairy's hand to trace 

The rainbow tints that rise to view ! 

That slender form of sweeter grace 
Than e'er Malvina's poet drew. 

Her brilliant eye, her streaming hair, 
Her skin's soft splendours do display 

The finest pencil must despair 
Till it can paint the solar ray. 

But a more unaccountable omission is that of 
several sonnets which he contributed to the 
Edinbuf^h Annual Register for 18 10. They 
are ^\^ m number, two of which, considerably 
altered, are in Brown's book ("The Sabbath" 
and "Parting with a Friend"), but the other 
three are not there at all. The Register was con- 
ducted by Scott and the Ballantynes, and likely 
enough Leyden forwarded the pieces from India. 
They are heralded in large type : " Sonnets, 
by Ur. John Leyden," so there is no room for 
doubt. Of the three sonnets omitted one is on 
"Memory," another on "The Lark," but the 
third, which has a melancholy interest to the 
lovers of genius prematurely cut off, ought to 
have been preserved from oblivion. I subjoin 
it: — 



22 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



Sonnet to a Mossy Gravestone in Cavers 

Churchyard. 

Where waves the grass beneath yon cypress' shade, 
A shapeless, mossy, time-corroded stone, 
Rain-driird, with furrowy surface, stands alone : 

I wish my head at last may there be laid, 

Without sepulchral pomp or vain parade. 
Such mockery the dead refuse to own, 
111 suited to the unseemly yellow bone 

That lies beneath the grassy rind to fade. 

Yet there the peasant's sober steps shall pass 

Whene'er the sacred Sabbath morn shall rise, 
And the slow bell to morning prayer shall toll ; 

And while his staff divides the rustling grass, 

** Here sleeps a youth unknown to fame!" he cries — 
" Calm be his sleep, and Heaven receive his soul ! " 

This was not to be, for, as Scott sings — 

A distant and a deadly shore 
Has Leyden's cold remains. 

Readers will remember the closing lines of the 
"Scenes of Infancy": — 

Rash youth ! unmindful of thy early days, 
Why didst thou quit the peasant's simple lot ? 
Why didst thou leave the peasant's turf-built cot. 
The ancient graves where all thy fathers lie, 
And Teviot's stream that long has murmured by ? 
Rash youth, beware! Thy home-bred virtues save. 
And sweetly sleep in thy paternal grave. 

I got my copy of the Ref^ister here in Melbourne 
at an old bookstall, and probably there may be 
other poems by Leyden in previous numbers. 
There is no copy of this poet in our public 
library, and indeed there are very few of any 
Scottish poet, therefore I do not know if the 
poems I have specified are in any other edition 
of Leyden. There is a spurious song, which 
appeared in the Scots Magazine of 1808, attri- 
buted to him — a "Farewell to the Banks of the 
Ken," in Galloway, mainly on account of this 
verse : — 

With aching heart, with frenzied soul, 
I quit the Ken's meandering tide ; 

I go where Indian oceans roll. 
Where Ganges and Hydaspes glide. 

Some Galloway bard will probably father this 
effusion, but I am confident that Leyden did 
not write it. Probably some of your readers 
may know of more inedited poems. 

I was almost forgetting some eulogistic lines 
addressed to Anne, daughter of Dr. Robert 
Anderson, an Edinburgh literary magnate at the 
beginning of last century. The lady became 
the wife of David Irving, LL.D., and on her 
death in 1812 he published a memorial volume, 
dedicated to Principal Brown of Aberdeen Uni- 
versity, which contained verses by Leyden, Alex. 
Murray, David Carey, and others. I have not 



seen that book, but I do not think "The Dryad's 
Warning," which Leyden sent to Dr. Anderson, 
could be the verses specified. 

Finally, I would like to know who was the 
"Aurelia" of Leyden's muse. He has embalmed 
her name in the " Scenes of Infancy," and else- 
where writes of her in a most impassioned strain. 
She must have been some bonnie Scottish lassie 
of whom he was enamoured. 



Melbourne, Australia. 
* 



Alba. 



The Borestone a "Boar Stone." — The 
theory is advanced by Mr. John Allan, a well- 
known Stirling architect, that the Borestone at 
Bannockbum is a stone of sacrifice — for boars, 
among other animals — dating from ages whereof 
we have no written record. Mr. Allan points 
to the antique remains with which the spot is 
surrounded, the situation of the stone itself, 
and the likeness of the stone to sacrificial stones 
scattered all over the country. He regards it 
as highly probable that a Christian cross was 
erected on the stone in the tenth or eleventh 
century in order to hallow it. Hence Bruce's 
choice of the locus for rearing his standard. 
Mr. Allan purposes reading a paper on the sub- 
ject to the local Archaeological Society, which 
possesses some very competent critics. Hitherto 
the popular belief has been that the Borestone 
took its name simply from the bore, or orifice, 
in it, and that Bruce had drilled the hole to 
receive the pole of his standard. — Aberdeen 
Daily Journal^ 7th July, 1906. 



" Proposals " have just been issued by Messrs, 
Oliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier for the publica- 
tion of a " History of the Tron Kirk and Parish 
of Edinburgh," by the Rev. Dugald Butler, 
M.A., minister of the Tron Kirk. The work is 
to be in crown quarto, well printed and illus- 
trated — promises that may be relied on, coming 
from such experts as are both author and pub- 
lishers. 



"Brown's Deesjde Guide" (2nd S., VII., 
187). — Mr. Robert Anderson writes: — I have a 
note from Mr. William Walker, 65 Argyll Place, 
who says : — " It may confirm your suggestion 
that the * Deeside Guide' was published in 1832, 
to know that the late Professor Child, of Har- 
vard, once wrote me that he had Joseph Robert- 
son's own interleaved copy of the book, and that 
there was written on the fly-leaf, in Robertson's 
own hand: 'Written hurriedly in supply of the 
press in April and May, 1832.— J. R'" 



Vol. VIII., 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



23 



AN ACT NATURALIZING A GORDON. 



Strange as it may appear, it was formerly 
necessary for a foreigner to have an Act of 
Parliament passed in order to become natural- 
ized. A case in point is the private Act for 
naturalizing Maria Gordon, otherwise Allan, 
spinster, March 7, 1796. (36 George III., No. 
69.) The Act never seems to have been printed, 
and the only copy in existence is the manuscript 
one in the House of Lords Library, which I 
have had copied, sending the official copy to 
(ill up the gap in the collection of Private Acts 
of Parliament in the British Museum. The 
document is as follows : — 

Humbly Beseecheth your Most Excellent 
Majesty, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and 
Commons in this present Parliament assembled, 
Maria Gordon, otherwise Allan, Spinster, born 
at Petersburgh in Russia, out of your Majesty's 
allegiance, professing the true Protestant Reli^on, 
and having given Testimony of her Loyalty and 
Fidelity to your Majesty and the good of the 
Kingdom of Great Britain, That it may be En- 
acted AND be it Enacted by the King's Most 
Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and 
Commons in this present Parliament assembled, 
and by the authority of the same. That she, the 
said Maria Gordon, otherwise Allan, shall be 
and is hereby from henceforth Naturalized, and 
shall be adjudged and taken to all Intents and 
Purposes to be Naturalized, and as a free born 
Subject of this Kingdom of Great Britain, and 
she shall be from henceforth adjudged, reputed, 
and taken to be in every Condition, Respect, and 
Degree free to all Intents, Purposes, and Con- 
structions as if she had been born a natural Sub- 
ject within this Kingdon of Great Britain. And 
be it further Enacted, Declared, and Ordained by 
the Authority aforesaid. That she, the said Maria 
Gordon, otherwise Allan, shall be, and she is 
hereby enabled and abjudged able to all Intents, 
Purposes, and Constructions whatsoever, to inherit 
and be inheritable and inherited, and to demand, 
challenge, ask, take, retain, have, and enjoy all 
or any Manors, Lands, Tenements, or Heredita- 
ments, Goods, Chattels, Debts, Estates, and all 
other Privileges and Immunities, Benefits, and 
Advantages in Law and Equity belonging to the 
Liege people and natural born Subjects of this 
Kingdom, and to make her resort or Pedigree as 
Heir to her Ancestors lineal or collateral, by reason 
of any Descent, Remainder, Reverter, Right, Title, 
Conveyance, Legacy, or Bequest whatsoever, 
which hath, may, or shall from henceforth descend, 
remain, revert, accrue, or grow due unto her, as 
also from henceforth to take, have, retain, keep, 
and enjoy all Manors, Lands, Tenements, and 
Hereditaments which she shall have by way of 



purchase or Gift of any Person or Persons whom- 
soever, and to prosecute, pursue, maintain, avow, 
justify, and defend all and all Manner of Actions, 
Suits, and Causes, and all other things to do as 
lawfully, liberally, freely, and surely as if she had 
been born of British parents within this Kingdom, 
and as any Person or Persons born or derived 
from British parents within this Kmgdom may 
lawfully in any wise do, and she, the said Maria 
Gordon, otherwise Allan, in all Things and to 
all Intents and Purposes shall be taken to be and 
shall be a Natural Liege Subject of this Kingdom 
of Great Britain, any Law, Act, Statute, Pro- 
vision, Custom, Ordinance, or other Matter or 
Thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. 
And be it further Enacted that she, the said 
Maria Gordon, otherwise Allan, shall not here- 
by be enabled to have any Grant of Lands, Tene- 
ments, or Hereditaments from the Crown to 
herself or any other Person or Persons in Trust 
for her, any Thing herein contained to the con- 
trary notwithstanding. And be it further Enacted 
That she, the said Maria Gordon, otherwise 
Allan, shall not hereby obtain or become intitled 
to claim within any Foreign Country any of the 
immunities and Indulgencies in Trade, which are, 
or may be, enjoyed or claimed therein by natural 
born British Subjects by virtue of any Treaty or 
otherwise, unless she, the said Maria Gordon, 
otherwise Allan, shall have inhabited and resided 
within Great Britain or the Dominions thereunto 
belonging, for the Space of Seven Years subse- 
quent to the first Day of this present Session of 
Parliament, and shall not have been absent out of 
the same for a longer Space than two Months at 
any one time during the said Seven years, any 
Thing herein contained to the contrary notwith- 
standing. 

It would be interesting to know who Maria 
Gordon, otherwise Allan, spinster, was. It is 
difficult to decide whether her real name was 
Gordon or Allan. 

J. M. Bulloch. 



74ARSHAL Keith.— The name of Keith is as 
great a crux in pronunciation to the German as 
tub is to a Durham yokel, the first being sounded 
Kite and the latter toob, I wished to see the 
statue to our countryman in Kaiser Wilhelm 
Platz, Berlin, a replica of which is, I understand, 
in Peterhead. When I said Keith, my German 
guide asseverated there was never anyone of 
that name associated with the great Fritz. I 
spelt out the word, and he laughed as he said, 
"Ach ! You means Von Kite ! Der teufel ! Vat 
you call him Keess for?" I was then taken to 
the Platz and saw the statue, and portraits after- 
wards in the Arsenal at Berlin and San Souci 
Palace. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



24 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



THE CANT FAMILY. 

I was much interested in the article by "Alba" 
in Scottish Notes and (Juertcs, Vol. VII., 2nd 
Series, p. 162, and as I happen at present to be 
engaged upon another work which occasions 
my having the Edinburgh University copy of 
the "Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scot, 
1 513-1546,'* in my possession, I have gone over 
it and noted all the charters which refer to the 
family in question. A brief glance over these 
may not be void of interest, and should be of 
value as an aid to anyone at present engaged 
in working out the Cant genealogy. 

Taking them in chronological order, the first 
charter referring to a Cant is No. 2, dated at 
Edinburgh, October 2, 1513, by which the king 
(James V-), grants to Mariote Brown, her heirs 
and assignees, on account of her husband having 
been slain in battle while in the king's service, 
along with several other items, "terram sive 
locum habitationis ex parte boreali dicti burgi 
[Edinburgh] infra tenementum quond. Henrici 
Cant, extenden ad 13 mere, unde exibant 8 
mere." Two years later, viz., on 14th July, 151 5, 
" Rex &c. concessit Johanni Cant incole ville de 
Leilh, heredibus ejus et assignatis, — tenementum 
terre in dicta villa ex parte austral i acjue ejusdem 
. . . Guod pertinebat quond. Johanni Patersoun, 
tent, de abbate et conventu de Melrose in feodi- 
firma pro 30 sol. annuatim, et post mortem dicti 
J oh. concessum fuit per diet abbatem, &c." 

The next charter in the Register refers pre- 
sumably to the John Cant, burgess in Edinburgh, 
mentioned by " Alba " as the benefactor to St 
Anthony's Chapel, and as it is of some interest 
I propose to give it in full : — "Apud Edinburgh, 
25 Maii, 1 5 17. Rex, &c., ad manum mortuam 
confirmavit cartam Johannis Cant, burgensis de 
Edinburgh ac dom. terrarum subscriptarum, — 
[qua, — cum consensu Agnetis Kerkettill sponse 
sue, necnon D. Joh. Craufurd capellani qui dictas 
terras de dicto Joh. tenuit, — in puram elimosinam 
concessit Josine Henrisoun ceterisque consorori- 
bus Ordinis S. Dominici S. Katherine de 
Cenis vulgariter nuncupat, in loco earum apud 
ecclesiam S. Johannis Baptiste super terras dicti 
Joh. Craufurd fundat Deo servientibus, earum- 
que successoribus, — 18 acras terrarum arabilium 
edificatarum et vastarum messuagii B. Egidii, 
jacen. inter ceteras suas terras de Sanct-Gelis- 
grange et terras communis more Edinburgi, 
vie. Edinburgh ; cum jure patronatus, proficuo, 
&c., dicte ecclesie per dictum Joh. Craufurde 
fundate;— quas dictus Joh. Craufurd personaliter 
resignavit :— Reddend annuatim 10 mercas 
capellano altaris S. Stephani in ecclesia metro- 
politana Glasguen ; necnon cantado altam mis- 



sam &c. : — Reservato libero tenemento dicto 
Joh. Craufurde:— Test, &c. . . . — Apudburgum 
de Edinburgh, 17 Apr. 1517]:— Insuper ratifi- 
cavit omnes cartas &c., dictis Sororibus factas : 
Test, &c." 

This transaction is thus referred to in the 
Burgh Records of Edinburgh, under date 5lh 
January, 15 16- 17 : — "The quhilk day Schir 
Johne Craufurd, fundour pat rone and cha plane 
of Sanct Johnis Kirk of the Burrowmure of 
Edinburgh, translatis and adnullis the funda- 
tioun and mortificatioun maid of befor, that is 
to say, that the said Schir Johne Craufurd gaif 
the said kirk, kirkyard, with housis biggit and 
to be biggit, yard, and all his land and akris 
byand thairto, contenit in his said first fundation 
and mortification, to Jasina Henrison and to 
the laif of the sistoris of thar ordour of Saint 
Katherine de Senis, thai garrand sing thare hie 
mes and antiphone of our Lady dailie, and uther 
suffrage for hys and thare saulis, etc, etc. . . . 
Te^tibus, dommo Georgeo Newton archideacono 
Dunblanenai, fratri Johanne Spens, prouinciale 
ordinis fratrum predicatorum, magistro Johanne 
Rynd, dominis Johanne Cant, Johanne Lithgow, 
capellanis Jacobo Goldsmyth, Andrea Johnes- 
ton, F'rancisco Blakstok, Johanne Andirson." 
Cant's Close referred to by "Alba" was not 
named from this John Cant, as, under date 4th 
October, 15 14, in the same Records, we find 
that, " for eschewing of this contagious sickness 
of pestilence be (joddis grace," the provost, 
bailies, and council ordained that the town be 
divided into four quarters to be assigned to four 
bailies, etc. The first quarter was to be "frae 
the Castelhill to Alexander Cant's Close," and 
the second "fra Alexander Cant's Close to Leyth 
Wynd," and so on. Who this Alexander Cant 
was I have not yet discovered. There, however, 
is an entry in the Records at 3rd September, 
1535 : — "Katherein Mayne, convict, to deid for 
airt and pairt of the slawchter of Alexander 
Cant, hir husband, the dome gevin, and execu- 
tion deferrit quhill scho wer lichter. In the 
convict buik of that daitt." 

Again, by a charter dated loth June, 1526, 
"terras quondam Hen. Cant senioris," is specified 
as adjoining " terram ex parte boreali vici regii," 
in Edinburgh, which the ktng granted to Archi- 
bald Douglas, senior burgess of Edinburgh, and 
Isabella Hoppare, his spouse. The same Hen. 
Cant, in January, 1527-8, is again immortalised 
for a similar reason ; and in a charter dated 
23rd March of the same year, a "Henricus Cant 
de Ovir-Libertoun " (whether the same Henry 
as the above, I do not know), as having sold 
to Robert Bruce of Wester- By nnyng, "annuum 
redditum 2 marcarum de terris ville de Ovir- 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



25 



Goger acmolendinoearundem,vic. Edinburgh." 
This is witnessed by "M. Math. Cant consan- 
guineo dicti Hen." 

In a charter dated Glasgow, 25th July, 1528, 
we find D. Hen. Cant mentioned as having 
witnessed one relating to the lands of Carpow in 
the barony of Abernethy, county Perth, which 
was dated in Dundee, ist February, 1524. Also 
in a deed dated at Edinburgh, loth May, 1529, 
he is again referred to as a witness of the charter 
by which a part of the lands of Finlarg, in the 
county of Forfar, was sold to William Carmichael 
of Carpow, and Isabella RoUak, his spouse. This 
also was dated in Dundee (8th May, 1529), and 
yet again on 13th March, 1530, he witnesses the 
charter "apudburgum de Dunde," by which the 
above William Carmichael, with the consent of 
Isabella Rollak, his spouse, concedes to William, 
his nephew, the son and heir of the late Alex- 
ander Carmichael, burgess of Dundee, and to 
the lawful heirs male of his body, etc., the 
western half of the lands of Ethibetoun, in the 
barony of Kerymure, county Forfar. This also 
is mentioned in a charter given at Edinburgh, 
loth April, 1531. I do not suppose this Henry 
to be a near connection of the Edinburgh family 
referred to in the earlier documents. He was 
more probably a relation or progenitor of the 
famous Rev. Andrew Cant. It would be inter- 
esting to learn what was his connection with the 
Carmichaels of Carpow. Perhaps someone may 
be able to throw a little light on these matters. 

W. Saunders. 
I Summerbank, 
Edinburgh. 

( To be continued). 



ROYAL VISITS TO ABERDEEN. 



Address to Charles II. 

In view of the approaching inauguration of 
the new Marischal College buildings by King 
Edward VII., it is interesting to note that two 
centuries and a half have elapsed since one of 
our kings last visited the Granite City. 

On Thursday, 27th June, 1650, Charles II., 
accompanied by his mistress, Lucy Walters, 
arrived in Aberdeen, having landed at Spey- 
mouth on the previous Monday. He was re- 
ceived with the greatest loyalty, "though very 
few persons of quality were admitted to him, 
being most either malignants or engagers. He 
was lodged in a merchant's house opposite to 
the Tolbooth, on which was affixed one of the 
hands of the most incomparable Montrose. 



Here he stayed but one night The next day 
being Friday, he passed to Dunotor.'*^ Kennedy, 
in his "Annals" (II., 404), records the rebuke 
administered to the king for his gallantries by 
Dr. William Douglas, concluding with the advice 
to the monarch in future — to close his windows. 

On 25th February following Charles returned 
to Aberdeen, and was the guest of the town for 
a week.' On this occasion he conferred the 
honour of knighthood both on the provost in 
office, Robert Farquhar of Mounie, and on his 
predecessor, ex-provost Patrick Leslie of I den. 

Aberdonian loyalty was again evidenced at the 
Restoration, in the address presented to King 
Charles by the graduating class of King's 
College, in the following terms : — 

Augustissimo, Illustrissimo, et Serenissimo Mon- 
archic, 

CAROLO SECUNDO, 
Dei Gratia Magna Britanni.c, Francis et 

HlBERNIiE ReGI, FiDEI DeFENSORI, ETC., 

CoLLEGii Regii Universitatis Aberdonensis 
Patrono Magnificentissimo. 

S. p. D. C. 

DuM omnium ordinum subditi tui (Monarcha 
Invictissime) de reditu et adventu hoc foelicissimo 
variis sua gaudia modis testari certant semuli, adeo 
omnem implevere | paginam, ut nihil nobis hujus 
TuA REGii£ AcADEMi.c alumnis reliquum fecerint. 
Cogimur itaque (apage cogimur), imo jucundissimam 
necessitatem laeti amplectimur, | grato et spontaneo 
animo, cum Philosophi Socratis discipulo illo egeno, 
quod nobis tantum superest, nosmetipsos, et omnia 
quae nostra sunt, quod sumus, quod possumus 
Majestati oiferimus | Vestra, quantum hujus 
scedulae exiguitas patitur, ingenue testamur et 
profitemur nos in Te, per Te, a Te, et de Te, unico 
et solo tanquam capite tenere et pendere: Tibi 
tanquam Sue- | cessori et HiCREDi iudubitato prae- 
decessorum tuorum Scotia Regum, omniaque 
nobis grata et chara sunt, nostra moenia, nostra 
munia, beneficia officia debemus, cuncta Tibi | et 
illis accepta referimus. Magnipicentissime Pat- 
rone et Regie Parens, haec nostra juvenilia sereno 
et placido vultu, accipere digneris, quae etsi nihil 
praeter cando- | rem, humilitatem et simplicitatem 
sapiant si tamen deessent et nos taceremus pueri, 
proculdubio tigna et lapides hujus tui Athenaei 
erumperent. Verum si Sacra Vestra Majes- | 
TATi visum fuerit, aut per otium licuerit paululum 
intueri aliorum quorundam, ex hoc etiam Collegio 
Tuo, affectus sinceros, in concionibus sacris, et 
publicis theatris expressos, spera- | mus quod nostrae 
tenuitati deest, abunde compensatum iri; licet et 
ilia sint CirrhcL procul et Parmesside Lymphs, pene 
sub Arctoi sydere nata poli ; nee Te digna satis nee 

1 Walker's " Historical Diacourses," p. 160. 
3 Balfour's "Annals," IV., p. 247. 



26 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



satis apta Tibi An- | gustus hisce inclusi, nunc 
penitus inviti cogimur aspectu S. D. N. nos sub- 
trahere, et ad pugnam Philosophicam, sub tuis sacris 
auspciis \iic\ nos accingere. Omnipotens Deus, 
Rex regum, et Domi- | nus dominantio, qui regit 
aetherei radiantia sydera Coeli, S. V. Majestaiem 
incolumem, ter et amplius foelicem, necnon et 
magno majorem Carolo praestet, thronum vestrum 
justitid et ae- | quitate stabiliat, et diu ac foeliciter 
nobis nostrisque posteris praeesse velit, et natorum 
natos per omnia labentia saecula lucida volventur 
nitido dum sydera Coelo, et post Sceptra terrestria 
im- I marcescibiiem V. Majestati coronam largia- 
tur. Haec supplices orant | S. V. Majestatis | 
humillimi servi, et omnibus mancipii vincuHs devot- 
issimi clientes ac oratores. | 

D. Robertus Gordonus, Alexander Urquhartus, 
Andreas Dalgardinaeus, Georgius Ruddachus, Guliel- 
mus Dalgardinaeus, Gulielmus Davidsonus, Guliel- 
mus Joassaeus, Gulielmus Mackfinnanus, Gulielmus 
Robertsonus, Gulielmus Torraeus, lacobus Abelus, 
lacobus Stuartus, loannes Forbesius, loannes 
Mackraeius, loannes Wakerus, Patricius Turnebullus, 
Robertus Martinus, Robertus Robertsonus, Robertus 
Strachanus, Robertus Tarresius. 

The address is now reprinted from the unique 
copy of the original print preserved in the Bod- 
leian Library, of which a transcript has been 
supplied to me through the courtesy of Mr. 
F. A. Madan. The names appended are those 
of the King's College magistrands of 1660. 
(" Officers and Graduates," p. 195.) 

P. J. Anderson. 



Cudbear. — The specification (No. 727) for 
the patent method of making "cudbear" (dated 
1758), granted to George Gordon, coppersmith, 
and Cuthbert Gordon, both of Leith, is as 
follows : — 

The name of the first inmdient 18 lichen. . . 
The name of the second ingredient is muscus 
rupibus admiscenSf or coloroides, being a weed, 
plant, or vegetable that grows mostly on sheltered 
rocks. The name of the third ingredient is muscus 
pyxidatus, being a plant, weed, or vegetable that 
grows in low, moorish, turfy ground. 

When these three ingredients are gathered, 
cleanse them from all filth by la3ring them severally 
in cold water, changing the water daily so long as 
any filth remains about them. Then dry and 
pound them in a mortar, and dilute them with 
spirit of wine and spirit of soot, to which add 
quick lime. Digest them together for fourteen 
days, and this will produce the cudbear fitt for 
dyers* use : a more solid kind of which may be 
obtained by continued digestion of the several 
ingredients for fourteen days more, when it will 
grow into a paste and harden like indigo. 



Rev. William Leask.— Vaguely affirmed in 
the "Dictionary of National Biography" to have 
been bom in England — place not mentioned. 
Twenty-four years before Mr. Leask's death (on 
6th November, 1884), Dr. Rogers published, in 
i860, "The Sacred Minstrel," giving specimens 
of hymns and religious poems, with biographies 
of the writers. Some of Leask's hymns are 
printed therein, and in the prefatory memoir he 
IS stated to have been born m Kirkwall, Orkney, 
in 1 812, and it was never contradicted, as in all 
probability Dr. Rogers had his information from 
the poet himself. Leask is essentially a Norse 
name, and Leask families on the mainland of 
Scotland deduce their ancestry from a Norse 
origin. As I am of Norse lineage myself, I am 
specially interested on this point ; and 1 may 
add that an Orcadian storekeeper here, the late 
Mr. Magnus Norquay, who occasionally lent me 
some of Mr. Leask's publications to read, as- 
sured me that he was a schoolfellow in Kirkwall 
with Leask. The whole trouble has arisen from 
a book which Mr. Leask issued in 1854, entitled 
" Struggles for Life, or, the Autobiography of a 
Dissenting Minister." Probably some of his 
own experiences are interwoven in that book, 
but to base the real life of Mr. Leask upon a 
fictitious narrative is manifestly erroneous, re- 
membering that six years after Dr. Rogers an- 
nounced that Leask was bom in Kirkwall. He 
certainly spent the greater part of his life in 
England, but that does not make him an English- 
man. Orkney has few celebrities of its own, 
and it does seem to me to be ungenerous con- 
duct to try to deprive it of even one man of mark. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

Anecdote of Napoleon.— When in Pots- 
dam three years ago, I made a pilgrimage to 
the Garrison Kirche (Garrison Kirk), where the 
bodies of Frederick the Great and his father, 
Friedrich Wilhelm I., lie side by side in a vault 
under the pulpit. A German gentleman present 
repeated a striking story of Napoleon, who, as 
conqueror of Prussia in 1806, visited the tomb 
just twenty years after the burial of Friedrich 
der Grosse. Apostrophising the royal remains 
at his feet, Napoleon pithily remarked : " If 
thou hadst been alive, I would not be here this 
day ! " That said a great deal for the magnani- 
mity of the much-maligned Corsican. Hearing 
this in the same place where it was originally 
uttered, it interested me deeply. Germans have 
no doubt whatever as to its truth, and keenly 
resent any imputation of manufacture. Has 
this anecdote appeared in print before? It is 
not in Carlyle's " History." Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



VoL.ViII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



27 



SOME GALLOWAY MACS. 

Many years ago I spent a month in Stranraer 
ere crossing over to Antrim, and I had also 
been in Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire. I had 
read about the historical clans of Scotland, and 
with the presumption of youth I thought myself 
well posted up in their genealogy. Of course I 
was wofully ignorant of the broken clans and \ 
wandering septs having the prefix Mac to their 
names, but I was enlightened very soon. Com- 
ing from the extreme north-east of Scotland, 
where Macs were few and of old and even illus- 
trious lineage, to the south-western point of our 
country, where Macs strange and uncouth 
abounded, I felt as if I had got into a new 
kingdom. I lived with Macs and worked with 
Macs whose names were a puzzle to me. At 
first I was amused, and wrote down the new 
Macs a few every day, but they increased upon 
me so much that I got appalled, and left the list 
unfinished. Here were Macs who had neither 
chieftains nor tartans, badges, music, armorial 
bearings, nor any distinctive history whatever. 
I know I have not put them all down, but 
quantum suff. Let somebody else essay the 
job. I subjoin the names, arranged alphabeti- 
cally, being of opinion that a volume could be 
written on the subject : — 

McAdam, McAdie, McAinsh, McAlexander, McAll, 
McAUum, McAnsh, McArdle, McAra, McAsh, 
McAuslan, McAuliff, McAliece. 

McBee, McBriar, McBratney, McBrearty, McBroom, 
McBryde, McBurney, McBrayne. 

McCaig, McCalman, McCaskilI,McCandIish, McCart- 
ney, McCall, McCarron, McCarlie, McCartie, 
McCaw, McCay, McChlery, McChrystal, McChris- 
tie, McCIatchie, McClelland, McClenaghin, 
McClernon, McClounan, McClung, McClure, 
McCloy, McCluskie, McClutchan, McClymont, 
McClumpha, McComas, McCormack, MaComb, 
McColm, McCracken, McCrackit, McCreadie, 
McCrotty, McCattie, McCraw, McCosh, McCrea, 
McCreery, McCue, McCune, McCutcheon, 
McCurdy, McCubbin, McCusker, McCulloch, 
McCuUum, McCorkindale, McCurnisky, McCoub- 
rie, McCuaird, McCrabbie, McCrindle. 

McDevitt, McDade, McDermid, McDaniel, McDill, 
McDool, McDouU, McDowall, McDonaghy, 
McDufiie. 

McEddie, McEachran, McEllar, McElgee, McEUi- 
kin, McEUigot, McEwing. 

McFadyen, McFaichney, McFargie, McFee, McFce- 
ters, McFerrand, McFarragher, McFade. 

McGarva, McGavin, McGaw, McGeoch, McGeorge, 
McGhie, McGilchrist, McGilp, McGibbon, McGil- 
ligan, McGinley, McGirr, McGlashan, McGlew, 
McGlone, McGlennon, McGlonagle, McGIovan, 
McGowan, McGoun, McGuflie, McGuffog, 
McGrewer, McGrowther, McGraw, McGorlick, 
McGungill, McGrugar, McGranahan. 



McHaffie, McHattie, McHarg, McHarrie, McHend- 

rie, McHutcheon, McHutcnison. 
Mcllquham, Mcllroy, Mcllwraith, Mcllwrick, Mcll- 

dowie, Mcllveen, Mclndoe, Mclnroy, Mclsaac, 

Mclnery. 
Mcjannet, Mcjory, Mcjorras, Mcjunkin. 
McKeand, McKea, McKendrick, McKell, McKer- 

char, McKergo, McKerlie, McKerrell, McKechnie, 

McKenna, McKain, McKichan, McKibbin, McKie, 

McKillop, McKim, McKersey, McKinnell, McKin- 

nie, McKitterick, McKinstray, McKissock, 

McKnaught, McKeachie, McKirdy. 
McLay, McLeerie, McLehose, McLeish, McLevie, 

McLintock, McLiver, McLoon, McLoughlin, 

McLurg, McLagg. 
McMartin, McMaster, McMath, McManamny, 

McMenamin, McMeekin, McMichael, McMic- 

king, McMinn, McMinnies, McManaway, McMor- 

rin, McMorland, McMurchie, McMurray, McMur- 

trie, McMurdo, McMain. 
McNatty, McNeilage, McNall, McNetsh, McNee, 

McNoe, McNair, McNaim, McNerny, McNiven, 

McNiece, McNight, McNickle. 
McOllave, McOmish, McOnie, McOuat, McOwan. 
McParlin, McPartland, McPhie, McPhail, McPhun, 

McPhater, McPhadrig, McPike. 
McQuhae, McQuhalter, McQuie, McQuillan, 

McQuire, McQuilken, McQuistan, McQuorn, 

McQuoid, McQuarters, McQuiggan. 
McRaild, McRaith, McRay, McReath, McRitchie, 

McRobbie, McRobbin, McRobert, McRannel, 

McRingan, McRorie, McReenan, McRofiie. 
McShane, McSheehy, McSkimmin, McSlorach, 

McSloy, McSwain, McSwceny, McSwiney, 

McSorley, McSparran, McSwiggan. 
McTaggart, McTurlach, McTavish, McTear, McTier, 

McTigue, McTurk, McTainsh. 
McUchter, McUmfray, McUre. 
McVean, McVeagh, McVey, McVitty, McVoorick, 

I^cVicker. 
McWard, McWatt, McWattie, McWha, McWhae, 

McWhannel, McWharrie, McWhir, McWhirtcr, 

McWillie, McWilliam, McWhinney, McYule, 

McYowen, McYand. 

There is a task for an enterprising philologist 
to determine the derivation of those names. *'I 
give it best," to use a Colonialism. They are all 
Macs. Some of the names are aboriginal, and 
will be found in old charters, having lands and 
ruined fortalices to tell of their former power ; 
others are variants of well-known clan and 
Christian names; but the bulk of them is of 
course Hibernian. Like the locusts, which are 
swarming now in Australia en route for other 
pastures, I can imagine in prehistoric times an 
irruption of Ulster Cruithnii (Ceathamachf) be- 
ing stranded on the Galloway coast, where they 
squatted, and left to their luckless progeny only 
the possession of a heathenish and undefinable 
surname, conjoined with a desperate struggle 
for existence. 

I have also a big list of Irish Macs, *' but 



28 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



that's another story," as Kipling observes, and 
possibly inadmissible in a Scottish publication. 
Many of the olden Macs satirised by our early 
Scottish poets are still to the fore. Thus, Dunbar 
(about 1500) introduces Makfadyane as a High- 
land piper in that weird poem, ** The Dance of 
the Seven Deadly Sins." Gawain Douglas, in 
his " Palace of Honour" (1501), alludes to "Gow 
Makmorn and Fyn McCoul." There are 
McMorrins in Galloway to this day, and it may 
be remembered that a noted Cockney thief, 
and presumably the murderer of Begbie, Jim 
McCouU, died in Calton Jail, Edinburgh, about 
1820. Montgomery sneers at the Highlanders 
in his skit, "Findlay McCondoquhy fuff 
McFadzeane" (1580), which seems only an an- 
tique way of spelling our Aberdeenshire McCon- 
nachie. 

Some queer names of Highland ministers 
occur in Rev. Hew Scott's ** Fasti Ecclesia 
Scoticana " : — McGilliepadrick, McCrocadill 
(McCorquodale ?), McQuhoncloquhy, Mcllvride, 
McKilican, Mcllvernock, McOsenog, McKil- 
vorie, Mcjor, McGarroch, Mc Kitchen, etc. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



to reply. He was " craw'd doon " and no mis- 
take. Vc€ vectis' He really went (not meta- 
phorically) to pot — and from thence to the table, 
and now once more peace reigns in our poultry- 
yard. Alba. 
Melbourne, Australia. 



" Crawdoun." — The true derivation of this 
old Scottish term of reproach is strangely missed 
by our commentators. Palerson, in his edition 
of Dunbar's poems (i860;, interprets it "coward," 
and anon gives it an adjectival sense as "scurvy" 
and "base"; but Dunbar uses both words in 
the same line : 

Canybald crawdoun Kennedy, coward of kind; 

and in "The Twa Mariet Women and the 
Wedo " gives us the key at once, when the lady 
alludes to her spouse : 

When I that cur had all clean and him ower- 

comen haill, 
I crew aboon that crawdoun as cock that were 

victor. 

The meaning is as plain as a pikestaff: it is 
simply "crowed down," beaten in conflict — a 
great stigma to our warlike ancestors. Pater- 
son, in rustic parlance, "didna ken muckle aboot 
cock-fechtin'." I reared two white Orpington 
cockerels from chicks lately. They fought two 
days for the mastery, and were terribly mauled 
and bedabbled with blood, feathers pulled out 
and combs torn, yet, being so evenly matched, 
they fought until exhausted, crew defiance at 
each other, and resumed the flght again and 
again. On the third day one had apparently 
got enough and refused to come to the tourney, 
whereupon the other hirpled on to a saw-block 
and crew victoriously, the beaten bird not daring 



759. Sir Hugh Halcrow. — In the Grange 
Cemetery, Edinburgh, there is a gravestone inscribed: 
** Sir Hugh Halcrow/* on the same side as John 
Mackintosh's tomb (the *' Earnest Student"), and 
almost adjoining it. There are no dates whatever, 
simply the name, which is Norse, and usually found 
in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Readers of 
Scott's "Pirate'' will remember the bard, Claud 
Halcro. I have inquired of several Shetlanders here 
concerning this Sir Hugh, but they all state that 
they never heard of him, and are as curious to learn 
his history as I am. Who was this knight ? How 
did he obtain the honour? When did he die? These 
questions should have been answered on the memorial 
stone, but they are not, and many people are in- 
clined to think that this Norse knight is a mythical 
personage. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

760. Grace before Meat. — Is the following 
grace well known in the North of Scotland ? — 

Lord, give me grace to feel my need of grace ; 
Olve me grace to ask for grace ; 
Give mc grace to receive grace ; 
And, O Lord, when grace is given, 
Give me grace to use it.— Amen. 

— Rev. A. Moody Stuart's '* Life and Letters, of 
Elisabeth, last Duchess of Gordon," 5th edition 
(with frontispiece), at page 27. London: James 
Nisbet & Co., Berners Street. 1866. 

Robert Murdoch. 

761. Adam Donald.— This singular character 
was known over the North of Scotland as the 
'* Prophet of Bethelnie," which is the ancient name 
of the parish of Oldmeldrum. He flourished from 
1820 to 1832, and had more than a local reputation 
in Aberdeenshire. When was the date of his de- 
cease ? Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

762. James Clyde, LL.D.— One of the classical 
masters at the Edinburgh Academy, who published a 
" School Geography " and other educational works, 
which were highly commended by the literary 
reviews of the time. He was father of a Scottish 
judge, recently appointed. Is Dr. Clyde still alive ? 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

763. Glasgow Book. —Who was the editor of 
" The Chronicles of St. Mungo, or Antiquities and 
Traditions of Glasgow," published by John Smith 
and Son in 1843, and dedicated to Henry Monteith 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



29 



and James Ewing, two of the merchant princes of 
that city ? It is an excellent compilation, and ex- 
tends to 434 pages. Stuart, Pagan, Mackenzie, 
Reid, and McGeorge all wrote on Glasgow sub- 
sequent to the publication of this work. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



764- George Blair, M.A. — He published, in 
1857, "Biographic and Descriptive Sketches of the 
Glasgow Necropolis." Had previously written "The 
Holocaust," and ** Lays of Palestine," and at the 
end of the volume on the Necropolis is alleged to 
have had in active preparation " The Text Book of 
the Telegraph." Whether it was ever published is 
more than I can affirm. I learned that he was a 
licentiate of the Church of Scotland, and that he 
emigrated to Canada, where he obtained the pastor- 
ate of a church, and died there during the closing 
years of the last century. Date and place of decease 
wanted. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

765. Moses Provan. — This gentleman was the 
founder of the Glasgow Athenaeum, and a prominent 
literary man for many years. When was the date 
of his death ? Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

7<56. Neil McAlpine. — About 1846 he published 
a " Pronouncing Gaelic Dictionary," as well as a 
"Gaelic Grammar." The late Professor Blackie 
wrote eulogistically about it. I never saw any 
memoir of this philologist. Can any correspondent 
give particulars of McAlpine's career ? 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

767. Bernardus Paludanus. — I have lately 
seen a silken portrait of *' Bernardus Paludanus," 
described in a later scroll as a most learned doctor. 
The date of his existence is somewhere in the Re- 
naissance period. Who is represented under this 
name ? A. Macdonald. 

Durris. 

768- James Murdoch, Author. — A press notice, 
which has been sent to me by a relative, states : — 
Mr. James Murdoch, the author of **The Christian 
Century in Japan" — a work that has attracted atten- 
tion in Tokio and elsewhere— is, it seems, a native 
of Stonehaven, his father having been at one time 
a coachman and gardener to Rev. Mr. Watt of 
Fetteresso. Born between forty and fifty years ago, 
Mr. James Murdoch was educated at the parish 
school, and then passed on to Aberdeen University, 
where he showed great scholastic attainments. He 
subsequeutly went to Oxford. Receiving an appoint- 
ment in Queensland, he remained there for some 
years, leaving for Japan, which was being opened 
up to foreigners. His residence in Japan has been 
marked by much literary work. I shall be glad to 
have further notes about Mr. Murdoch and his 
forbears. Robert Murdoch. 



answers. 



54. Leading Apes (ist S., I., 92; V., 125 ; 2nd 
S., III., 47). — Yet another reference to this. I find 
it recorded on page 43 of ** Domestic Folk-lore," by 
T. F. Thiselton Dyer, M.A. (Cassell, Petter, Galpin 
and Co., London, 1881). Under the heading, 
*' Marriage," he remarks: — " It was also customary, 
in former years, for elder sisters to dance barefooted 
at the marriage of a younger one, as otherwise they 
would inevitably become old maids. Hence Kath- 
arine says to her father, in allusion to Bianca — 

" She is yonr treasure, she must have a husband. 
I must dance barefoot on her weddinf(-day. 
And for your love to her lead apes in hell. 

" The last line, the meaning of which, however, is 
somewhat obscure, expresses a common belief as to 
the ultimate fate of old maids. Malone, on this 
passage, remarks that in Shakespeare's time '*to lead 
apes " was one of the employments of a bear-ward, 
who often carried about one of these animals along 
with his bear." Robert Murdoch. 

718. Parody of "Bonnie Dundee" (2nd S., 
VII., 136, 156, 175 ; VIII., 14). — In your answer to 
query by R. D., you speak of Dr. Peter Smith as 
the "reputed parodist." Now, I remember Mr. 
Smith coming into my lodgings, either on the night 
of publication or a night or two after, and telling us 
all about having the parody printed, and how he 
made a present of the copies to " Blin' Bob," on 
condition that he would stand at King's College 
gate at the mid-day interval, and sell them to the 
students as they passed out. Almost every student 
bought a copy, and a copy was put on each pro- 
fessor's desk. Some of the professors pooh-poohed 
the parody as a silly freak, but it was observed that 
they all took their copies home when they left. 



Banff. 



John Yeats. 



722. Barclay of Ury (29d S., VII., 172, 190, 
191). — A genealogical account of the Barclays of 
Uriewas published in Aberdeen, 1740, and a London 
edition appeared in 1812. (See Robertson's Hand- 
list of 1893.) I regret that I have not handled either 
editions. Robert Murdoch. 

723. "The Silver Eel" (2nd S., VII., 172, 
19 1 ).~ Surely Mr. P. J. Anderson cannot be aware 
of the true character of the song or ballad he is 
seeking. It is immoral, but thinly disguised as an 
angling ditty. I heard it long ago at the close of a 
spree when only a few revellers were left, and they 
were deliriously emphatic in their approbation. I 
was a mere stripling at the time, but some of the 
obfuscated seniors obligingly explained its purport, 
and then rallied me unmercifully afterwards when I 
objected to it. Although I am an old printer now, 
and have seen many queer things in type, "The 



30 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



Silver Eel " has never yet wriggled into print to my 
knowledge. It is unworthy of it. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

724. Volunteer Officers of 1794-1808 (2nd 
S., VII., 172). — Rev. Jas. Smith, at address below, 
will show an oil painting of Sheriff Moir, which he 
bought at the Pittodrie sale. Mrs. Erskine was his 
daughter, and Mr. Smith was interested in buying 
him as having been tutor to H. W. K. Erskine, his 
grandson, and now ex-laird of Pittodrie. 



13 Albert Street, 
Aberdeen. 



Jas. Smith. 



726. Stewart or Stuart Family (2nd S.,VII., 
173). — Into the high matters and intricate genea- 
logies involved in this query I do not presume to 
enter, but wish merely to say that one Gavin Drum- 
mond graduated M.A. at King's College, Aberdeen, 
on 6th May, 1712, and is entered as being from 
Perth county. Quite possibly he may have been the 
same as the Gavin Drummond who, in 1773, was 
buried in Westminster Abbey, and, in all probability, 
was a scion of the noble family of Drummond in 
Perthshire. If I understand Mr. McPike aright, he 
connects his own family, McPike, with that of the 
Halleys. In this aspect of the matter the extract, 
quoted from the ** Westminster Abbey Registers," 
becomes extremely important, inasmuch as it shows 
that the Halleys were connected with the Drum- 
monds, while the Drummonds, as everyone knows, 
were closely related to the Royal Family of Scot- 
land. I would venture to suggest that " Collendar'' 
in the query may be a mistake for ** Callendar." 

W. 

727. The Battles of Preston, Falkirk, and 
CuLLODEN (2nd S., VII., 173). — A. Lumsden, that 
is, Andrew Lumsden, born 172 1, connected with the 
family of Cushnie, was a follower of Prince Charlie, 
and acted as his private secretary. He is said by 
Chambers to have been the son of William Lums- 
dale or Lumsdain, a writer in Edinburgh. His 
brother-in-law was Sir Robert Strange, the engraver. 
After Culloden he made his escape to the Continent, 
where he lived for several years, and wrote " Remarks 
on the Antiquities of Rome and its Environs." He 
was pardoned about 1778, and returned to his native 
land. Conflicting testimony is borne as to the place 
and date of his death. According to one account 
he was on a visit to Aberdeen, and died there in 
1802. According to the '* Catalogue of the Scottish 
National Portrait Gallery," with probably more 
exact information, he died in Edinburgh in 1801. 
In 1749 an "Account of the Battle of Culloden" was 
published in London. This, however, was not 
Lumsden's MS., who at the time was an outlaw. 
As far as I am aware, his MS. has never been pub- 
lished — at all events. Chambers knew nothing of it 
or had no access to it when he penned his *"*" History 
of the *45 Rebellion." Where it is now I am unable 
to say. Possibly a reference to some annotated copy 



of the '* Gibson Craig Sale Catalogue " might reveal 
the purchaser, and put one on the track of the MS. 

S. 

742. Provost Brown of Aberdeen and the 
"Edinburgh Weekly Journal" (2nd S., VII., 
190; VIII., 16). — The query I put in S. iV. 6* Q, 
arose out of the statement which is made by Mr. 
Norrie in his *' Edinburgh Newspapers," and which 
is summarised by Mr. George Walker in last month's 
S. N. &» Q. 1 asked the question because the 
paragraph from which it was taken is full of errors. 
It is stated that the yournal began in 1744: I have 
seen a number of Vol. 2, and it is dated 1758. William 
Smellie is given as editor in 1767 : Smellie's " Life " 
does not say so, although it mentions Smellie's op- 
position to the continuance of the yournal in 1771, 
which resulted in the break-up of the publishing 
firm. Norrie says, the Weekly yournal was " pub- 
lished without intermission for upwards of a century:'* 
as I shall show in the proper place this is exceedingly 
wide of the mark. He says, James Ballantyne ac- 
quired the paper in 1806: the true date is 1817. 
Perhaps some transaction did take place in 1806 — I 
have as yet been unable to see the nle for that year 
— and Norrie has mixed up that operation with the 
Ballantyne buying of 18 17. It was to elicit some 
information on the point that I sent my query. I 
may add that the gross inaccuracies that appear in 
existing accounts of Edinburgh journals have been 
quite a revelation to me. As my investigations have 
proceeded, I have been constrained to reject the 
most confident statements, even although they have 
been made by names apparently worthy of credence. 
Very few writers have thought it necessary to 
examine the files for themselves, and have been con- 
tented to reproduce the errors of their predecessors. 
In my contributions I have thought it sufficient to 
state the facts without pointing out, except in a few 
cases, that they are corrections of long accepted 
assertions. Corrections would have taken up too 
much of S. N. &> Q.'s space. W. J. C. 

743. Grammar Schools (2nd S., VIII., 12). — 
It is not known when Aberdeen Grammar School 
was first built Schools are mentioned in connection 
with the city as early as 1256 (Watt's "Aberdeen 
and Banff," p. loi), but were no doubt in existence 
at a considerably earlier period. Aberdeen School 
is termed the "Grammar School" in 1418, being 
the first educational seminary in Scotland to be so 
designated (Hutchison's "History of the High 
School of Stirling," Stirling, 1904, p. 9). It was 
somewhat later than the reign of James IV. that the 
school was restored. In 1527, it having been re- 
ported that the Grammar School was decayed and 
liable to fall, "the provost, bailies, and community 
charge the master of the kirk work to build it at the 
town's expense" (Grant's "History of the Burgh 
Schools of Scotland," p. 69). This would make 
the date of restoration fall into the reign of James 
V. The old school building, I believe, is not now 
standing. " In ancient times the Grammar School 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



31 



consisted of detached buildings, but in 1757 a build- 
ing forming three sides of a square was erected" 
(Smith's "Aberdeenshire," Vol. I., p. 163). The 
edifice reared at that date continued as the Grammar 
School until 1863, when the present structure, built 
in the Scottish Baronial style, took its place. Per- 
haps Slezer's "Theatrum Scotiae," published in 
1693, may afford some idea of the appearance of the 
building previous to 1757. The grammar schools of 
Scotland were not built in olden times according to 
any particular style of architecture. Less than a 
hundred years ago, any building with four walls and 
a roof was deemed good enough for a school. " The 
rooms for the most part were badly ventilated, and 
unhealthy, overcrowded, dirty, and ill adapted for 
the purpose for which they were used. The school 
houses were often old stables, old granaries, dilapi- 
dated weaver-shops, and cellars" (Wright's "History 
of Education," p. 237). See also Dr. Findlater's 
'* Reminiscences " for description of an ordinary 
school in Aberdeenshire about eighty years ago. 

W. S. 

745. Verses on Two Babes (2nd S., VIII., 
12). — A correspondent has just pointed out to me 
that the Frederick G. Forsyth Grant, the original 
owner of the book containing the verses cited as 
now in my possession, is unquestionably the same 
gentleman who, in 1890, was a member of the New 
Spalding Club. His address at that date was 
Ecclesgreig, Montrose. Robert Murdoch. 

Lieutenant (afterwards Captain) Frederic Grant 
Forsyth Grant, of the 3rd Light Dragoons (latterly 
the 3rd Hussars), is the gentleman referred to in 
Mr. Robert Murdoch's query. He was the son of 
William Forsyth Grant, Esq., of Ecclesgreig, St. 
Cyrus, who inherited the estate by will of his uncle, 
Frederic Grant, and assumed his name. Captain 
Grant was educated at Oxford, and succeeded to his 
father's estate in 1863. A version of the epitaph 
quoted, appears in Spurgeon's "John Ploughman's 
Talk," p. 173. It reads thus:— 

Two sweetur babes you nare did see 
llian Ood amity gave to wee ; 
But they wur oertakeu wee agur fits, 
And hear thay lye has dead as nits. 

Spurgeon states that he had the lines from the lips 
ot a Gloucestershire man, and that they were to be 
found in Dymock Churchyard. W. S. 

749. HuTTON, Hepburn, Lidderdale (2nd S., 
VIII., 13). — Prolonged research would be necessary 
to do adequate justice to this query. A few random 
notes are all I can venture to supply. The Huttons 
of Hutton Hall, Cumberland (a family now, I be- 
lieve, extinct in the male line), claimed descent from 
the days of William the Conqueror. The pedigree 
was never, I think, published. It may perhaps be 
found, in part, at least, in Denton's ** Account of 
Estates and Families in Cumberland," edited by 
Ferguson, Kendal, 1887. Some Yorkshire pedigree 
book might also be useful for families named Hutton 



residing in that county. William Hutton, a Birming- 
ham bookseller, wrote an account of his family, but 
probably his work would be valueless for the purpose 
of the query. Much has been written about the 
Hepburns — at least, about the fighting Hepburns. 
In Taylor's "Great Historic Families of Scotland," 
a chapter is devoted to the fortunes of the house, 
but is confined mainly to the Bothwell Hepburns, 
and does not come much nearer our own time than 
the year 1600. Grant, the novelist and military 
historian, wrote a " Memoir of Sir John Hepburn" 
(one of the most famous soldiers of fortune of his 
day), while interesting notes about other distin- 
guished Hepburns abound in his writings. The 
Lidderdales are only traceable in the " Retours " and 
"Parish Registers." Anderson gives a good deal 
of information in " The Scottish Nation " about the 
Robertsons of Struan as well as the Urquharts, but 
does not notify any marriage between the two 
houses. It is possible that the Janet Robertson of 
the query may have been sister to Colonel Alexander 
Robertson, head of the clan between 1784 and 1822, 
in which case Miss Urquhart must have been the 
wife of Duncan Robertson of Drumachune, Colonel 
Robertson's father. The Fullertons were possibly a 
Kincardineshire family, the name occurring very 
frequently in the annals of that county. 

Amateur. 

750. CocKBURNSPATH (2nd S., VIII., 13). — Ber- 
wickshire is deplorably destitute of any publication 
worthy the name of local history. Perhaps Mr. 
W. J. Frost may find some help in the following 
works: — "Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalist 
Club " (a copy may be difficult to procure) ; Small's 
" Scottish Market Crosses, with Introductory Chap- 
ter by Hutcheson," Stirling: Mackay, 1900 (a full- 
page plate of the village cross is given, and some 
architectural notes are added) ; Patten's ** Expedition 
into Scotland of the Duke of Somerset," London, 
1544 (there are modern reprints of this work — it 
deals with the history of the castle); "Journey 
through the Counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Dum- 
fries, Ayr, Lanark, East, West, and Mid Lothians 
in the Year 1817," Edinburgh, 1818 ; " The Border 
Tour," Edinburgh, 1826; Chambers's "Gazetteer 
of Scotland," 1832; "The Ordnance Gazetteer of 
Scotland," edited by Groome (under " Cockburns- 
path" and "Dunglass"); Forsyth's "Beauties of 
Scotland"; Notes to Scott's "Bride of Lammer- 
moor"; Crockett's "Minstrelsy of the Merse" (at 
least one of the poems deals with the parish). None 
of the above works, I fear, will afford the precise 
information sought for. The origin both of cross 
and castle seem alike lost in the mists of historical 
obscurity. W. S. 

751. Rev. J. Brichan, Botanist (2nd S., VIII., 
13). — James Brodie Brichan, son of the Rev. David 
Brichan, minister of Dyke (who died in 181^), re- 
ceived licence from the Church of Scotland, but 
adhered to the Free Church at the Disruption. He 
distinguished himself as an antiquary, and assisted 



32 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[August, 1906 



in editing and arranging for publication the later 
portions of •*Origines Parochiales Scotiae," issued 
by the Bannatyne Club, 1851-53. W. 

752. Dr. Stephen, Botanist (2nd S., VIII., 13). 
— William Stephen, King's College, Aberdeen, was 
AM., 1857; M.D., i860; and L.F.P.S. Glas. and 
L.M., 1870. Was he the man ? W. 



Xiterature« 



Th/! Sculptured Stone of Aberlemno. By John 
Milne, LL.D., Aberdeen. 1906. 

Since Boece's day, no one it seems has at- 
tempted, till now, the interpretation of the 
pictorial carvings on this well-known Forfar- 
shire sculptured stone. In this eight-page 
pamphlet Dr. Milne has, with little trepidation, 
thrown down the gauntlet of a feasible reading, 
which may tempt the ingenious to study, at 
least. The author's theory is that the stone 
represents the biblical duel between David and 
Goliath, and two excellent illustrations of the 
stone will materially assist any efforts to solve 
this ancient crux. 

Official Guide to the Abbey-Churchy Palace^ 
and Environs of Holyroodhouse^ with a His- 
torical Sketch, by the Right Hon. Sir Herbert 
Maxwell, Bart. Wm. Blackwood & Sons, Edin- 
burgh. 1906. Sixpence net. [183 pp., Svo.] 

With this book in hand, "compiled by direc- 
tion of H.M. Office of Works," no one need 
have any doubt as to his being " guided " aright 
as to the essential facts of Holyrood and its 
environs. Sir Herbert Maxwell's important 
historic sketch, which extends to 114 pages, 
brings into focus all Scottish history which has 
any vital connection with Holyrood and its 
history. Numerous illustrations enhance the 
value t)f the volume. 

Scottish Heraldry. Two books of exceptional 
interest on heraldry have been written by Mr. 
G. Harvey Johnston, author of "The History of 
the Ruddimans and the Johnstons," viz. : — 
"Scottish Heraldry made easy" (1904), and the 
"Heraldry of the Stewarts" this year — both 
published by Messrs. W. & A. K. Johnston, 
Ltd., . Edinburgh. Each work is sumptuously 
illustrated with coloured pictures and with des- 
criptive letterpress. The first-named work is pre- 
faced by an interesting article on heraldry : its 
purpose and origin, followed by special chapters 
on parted coats, etc., badges, crests, etc., ac- 
companied by a list of Scottish heraldic and 
genealogical works to be studied ; as also a 



glossary explaining the various terms used in 
heraldic science. The second volume, which, 
by the way, is dedicated by permission to the 
Stewart Society (founded a few years ago), is 
also a valuable adjunct to any Scottish library, 
the present limited edition having no fewer than 
eight pedigree charts, and eight heraldic plates 
in colour, giving representations of 128 Stewart 
Arms which have been recorded. On page 86 
there is a concise bibliography entitled, " Some 
Stewart Books," which has been very carefully 
compiled — the first work dating back to an 
Amsterdam book, 1603, folio, and the last, 
" Story of the Stewarts," published in 1901 for 
the Stewart Society. As the author says, no 
attempt has been made to include works dealing 
with Queen Mary or Prince Charles Edward, as 
their name is legion. Both works contain an 
exhaustive index making them accessible, and 
thus adding greatly to their value. 

Robert Murdoch. 



Scots 3Boof{B of tbe Aontb. 



Ars^^ll, Dowas:er Duchess of. The Duke of 
Argyll, 1823- 1900. With Illustrations. Two Vols. 
Net, 36s. John Murray. 

Clark, W. Fordyce. The Story of Shetland. 
Svo. Net, 2S. 6d. Oliver & Boyd. 

Edj^ar, Madalen. Stories from Scottish History, 
selected from Scott's '* Tales of a Grandfather." 
Cr. Svo, 256 pp. Net, is. 6d. and 2s. 6d. 

Harrap. 

Qray, Peter. Skibo: its Lands and History. 
Svo. Net, 4s. 6d. Oliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier. 

Lans:, Andrew. Portraits and Jewels of Mary 
Stuart. With seventeen full page Illustrations. 
Royal Svo. Net, 8s. 6d. Maclehose. 

Mackenzie, W. C, F.S.A. Scot. A Short His- 
tory of the Scottish Highlands and Isles. Illus- 
trated. Svo. Net, 58. Gardner, Paisley. 

Milne, John, LL.D., Aberdeen. The Sculp- 
tured Stone of Aberlemno. Two Illustrations. 
Crown Svo. 8 pp. id. Wyllie, Aberdeen. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. Ed. 



Printed and Published at The Rosemoant PresB, Aberdeen. 
Literary comnmulcatioiiB should (>e addressed to the Jtditw, 
23 Osborne Place, Aberdeen; Advertisements and Business 
Letters to the Publishers, Farmer's Hall I^ne, Aoerdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL. VIII. 1 NTo ^ 
2nd SERIES. J ^^^* O' 



September, 1906. 



^o^™^{p2rp2^i4d. 



CONTENTS. 



Notes :— 



Paqe 

Quatercentenary Publications 23 

A Bibliography of Edinburgh Periodical Literature . . 35 

Gordon Book-Plates ^0 

Forfarshire a« a Factor In Scottish Life and Thought 41 

MiKOR Notes :— 

Church Tokens ^ 

Adam King— Freemasonrj- Terms 39 

Scotsmen in the Kussian Navy 40 

StlURoom ^ 

QCBRIES :— 

Henry Shanks— A. J. Warden— Peter Patcrson— 
*' Thole, and Think On !"— The Clan Maclean— 
Farquhars in Longside, Aberdeenshire 45 

William Farquhar, 1724, Author— McPherson alias 
MoWillie 46 



46 



W^. J. Linton's Origin— Brodie— The Haigs of Bemer- 
syde 

William Mackay — Button, Hepburn, Lldderdale— 
Lawrances In Usan— What is a " Tap " or " Tapion " ? 
—Curious Figures on a Tombstone — Barbara 
Gordon (Mrs. Faniuhar)— Buchanan Hospital- 
Adam Donald— George Blair, M.A 47 

Moses Pro van— Nell McAlpine— Bemardus Paludauus 
James Murdoch, Author 48 

Scots Books of the Month 48 



ABERDEEN, SEPTEMBER, 1906. 



University of Aberdeen. 



QUATERCENTENARY PUBLICATIONS. 



The end of this month will witness great 
festivities in Aberdeen in connection with the 
400th birthday of the University. Besides the 
usual round of social gaieties, presentations of 
addresses, and grantings of honorary degrees, 
the event will be unique in the annals of the 
Scottish Universities in two ways. In the first 
place the King and Queen will take part in the 
inauguration of the magnificent new buildings 



at Marischal College. In the second place a 
number of important volumes will celebrate the 
quatercentenary. At least two of these will 
have local historical interest, the one, " Studies 
in the History and Development of the Univer- 
sity of Aberdeen," edited by Mr. P. J. Anderson ; 
the other, " Roll of the Graduates of the Univer- 
sity of Aberdeen, i860- 1900," edited by Colonel 
William Johnston, C.B. 

Under the title " Studies in the History and 
Art of Asia Minor," Professor Ramsay and his 
pupils have brought together a volume of 
researches which forms a ver>' valuable contri- 
bution from the Faculty of Arts. Dr. William 
Bulloch has edited a series of researches in 
pathology as a medical contribution. These 
volumes will be presented to universities and 
institutions in various parts of the world, and 
also to subscribers. The contents of the volumes 
are given below. 

Owing to the serious illness of Professor 
narrower, one of the projected set of five 
volumes — the second series of the " Flosculi 
Graeci Boreales" — will not be ready for delivery 
at the time of the celebrations. It is hoped, 
however, that subscribers will receive it at no 
long interval thereafter. The other four are : — 

I. The Roll of Graduates of the University 
OF Aberdeen, i860 to igoo. With brief bio- 
graphical notices. By Colonel William Johnston, 
C.B., M.A., M.D. With, as frontispiece, a photo- 
gravure portrait of Principal Sir William Duguid 
Geddes, who held University office during the 
whole period covered. About 700 pages. 

II. Studies in the History and Art of the 
Eastern Roman Provinces. By Professor W. 
M. Ramsay, D.D., Litt. D., etc. With many 
illustrations. About 350 pages. 

i. Art in Isauria and Phrygia during the Third 
and Fourth Centuries, By Agnes Margaret 
Ramsay, M.A. 

ii. Smyrna as described by the Orator Aristides. 
By William Moir Calder, M.A. 

iii. Epitaphs in Phrygian Greek, By Alexander 
Petrie, M.A. 

iv. Inheritance^ Adoption^ and Marriage in 
Phrygia^ as shown by the Epitaphs of Trophi- 
mos and his Family, By John Eraser, M.A. 



34 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1906 



V. Explorations in Lycaonia and Isauria, 1904. 

By Professor Thomas Callander, M.A. 
vi. Paganism and Christianity in the Upper 

Tenibris Valley. By John George Clark 

Anderson, M.A. 
vii. Report to the Wilson Trustees on a Journey 

in Phrygia and Lycaotiia. By the Editor, 
viii. The War of Moslem and Christian for the 

Possession of Asia Minor. By the Editor. 
ix. A Religious Society on the Imperial Estates 

at Pisidian Antioch. By the Editor. 

III. Studies in Pathology. Written by Alumni 
to celebrate the Quatercentenary of the University, 
and the Quartercentenary of the Chair of Patho- 
logy therein ; and edited by William Bulloch, 
M.b. With, as frontispiece, a portrait of Pro- 
fessor Hamilton. About 400 pages. 

i. Professor Hamilton. By William Leslie 
Mackenzie, M.A., M.D. 

ii. The History and Progress of the Chair of 
Pathology. By the Editor. 

iii. The Alimentary Canal as a Source of Con- 
tagion. By Professor Hamilton, M.B. 

iv. A Remarkable Case of Bilharziosis. By 
Professor William St. Clair Symmers, M.B. 

V. Malformations of the Bulbus Cordis. By 
Arthur Keith, M.D. 

vi. The Administrative Aspects of Tuberculosis. 
By William Leslie Mackenzie. 

vii. Paroxysmal Irregularity of the Heart. By 
Professor Arthur Robertson Cushny, M.A., 
M.D. 

viii. Researches on Certain Problems of Plague 
Immunity. By George Dean, M.A., M.B. 

ix. Experimental Study of the Immunity against 
Bacillus Pyocyaneus. By the Editor. 

X. On Epignathus. By Alexander Low, M.A., 
M.B. 

xL A Contribution to the Pathology of Exoph- 
thalmic Goitre. By George Mellis Duncan. 
M.B. 

xii. The Rat Theory of Plague Epidemics, By 
William Hunter, M.B. 

xiii. Some Experiments with Disinfectants. By 
Andrew Ross Laing, M.D. 

xiv. On Eck's Fistula. By Professor John 
James Rickard Macleod, M.B. 

XV. On the Action of certain Bacteria in pro- 
ducing Cell-necrosis. By George Ford Petrie, 
M.D. 

xvi. The Relationship between the Factors in- 
ducing Haemolysis and those inducing Phago- 
cytosis of Red Blood Corpuscles. By Robert 
Donald Keith, M.A., M.D. 

xvii. An Experimental Enquiry into the Relation- 
ship of Leucocytosis to the Opsonic Content of 
the Blood Serum. By James Charles Grant 
Ledingham, M.A., M.B., and the Editor. 

xviii. Immunity in Pneumococcal Infections. By 
George Grant Macdonald, M.A., M.D. 

xix. Note on the Bacteriology of some Diseases 
of Sheep. By James Milner Adams, M.A., 



M.B., and Bertie Ronald Gordon Russell, 
M.B. 

IV. Studies in the History and Development 
OF THE University of Aberdeen. Edited by 
P. J. Anderson, LL.B., Librarian. With photo- 
gravure portraits of Bishop Elphinstone and the 
Earl Marischal. About 550 pages. 

i. Bishop William Elphinstone. By Professor 
Cowan, M.A., D.D. 

ii. Hector Bocce and the Principals. By Prin- 
cipal Lang, D.D., M.D. 

iii. The Maker of Marischal College. By John 
Malcolm Bulloch, M.A., author of **A History 
of the University of Aberdeen. " 

iv. The University's Contribution to Philosophy. 
By Professor Davidson, M.A., LL.D. 

v. The Historians. By Professor Terry, M.A. 

vi. Natural Science in the Aberdeen Universities. 
By Professor Trail, M.A., M.D., F.R.S. 

vii. New Testament Learning in the Univer- 
sities. By Professor Nicol, M.A., D.D. 

viii. The Faculty of Law. By Professor 
Kennedy, M.A., LL.D. 

ix. Four Centuries of Medicine in Aberdeen. 
By Professor Stephenson, M.D. 

X. The Aberdeen University Educator. By 
James Fowler Kellas Johnstone, Co-editor of 
the ^* Fasti Academiae Mariscallanae." 

xi. The Buildings. By Robert Sangster Rait, 
M.A., author of "The Universities of Aber- 
deen: a History.*' 

xii. Collections towards a Bibliography of th€ 
Universities of Aberdeen^ 1522-1906. By the 
Editor. 

Other two volumes in preparation, but not in- 
cluded in the series of Quatercentenary Studies, 
will be : — 

Handbook to the City and the University. By 
Robert Walker, M. A. , Secretary to the University 
Court, and A. M. Munro, City Chamberlain. 

Life at a Northern University. By Neil N. 
Maclean, M.A. New edition, revised and an- 
notated by W. Keith Leask, M.A. Issued by the 
Students* Representative Council. 



Church Tokens. — An article on the unique 
church token collection formed by Mr. D. 
Edward, of the Caledonian Railway Office, 
Dundee, now at Perth, extracted from the 
Dundee Aavertiser^ appeared in Saint Andrew 
26th July this year. Other notable collections 
formed by the late Mr. John Reid, Blairgowrie ; 
Mrs. Stein, Kirkfield, Lanark ; Mr. Alfred Cox, 
Dundee ; and a collection in the possession of 
Mr. J. H. Pratt, Glasgow, were incidentally 
mentioned. The Edward collection is described 
as one full of interest to numismatists. 

Robert Murdoch. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



35 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc.) 



(Continued from Snd S., Vol. VIII., p. 11.) 
[Supplementary.] 

1718. The Edinburgh Evening Courant. No. i. 
Monday, December 15, 1718. 6 pp., folio, printed 
across the page. " Edinburgh : printed by Mr. 
James McEuen, William Brown, and John Mos- 
man, and are to be sold at the said Mr. James 
McEuen and William Brown, their shops, where 
advertisements are to be taken in." Publication 
days were Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. 

Before the actual issue took place, the following 
** proposals " were sent out : — 

"ProposalB for Printing by Snbscription a News-Paper 
to be Intitled The Edinburgh Evening Coitrani, by one 
from London, who has had long Experience in that 
Business, having heretofore written several News- 
Papers, 

I. The Author proposes to have the Dutch, French, 
and Flemish Prims, which frequently arrive at London 
on Post-Nights, when 'tis too late, even for private 
Letters to insert their Contents : By which means he 
will often have the News a Post sooner than they can 
cume by the English Papers. 

II. He intends to provide himself with several 
valuable London Papers, in Print and Manuscript, very 
rare in Scotland. 

III. 'Tis propos'd t<j give a true Account of what 
passes in Scotland, by settling Correspondents in 
several Parts for that £nd. 

IV. 'Tis intended to have an impartial regard to 
Truth ; and to relate nothing but what Is Authentic : 
And all shall be done without the least Reflection upon 
any Person or Party. 

V. The Paper will be printed on a Sheet and Half, 
thrice a Week : And whereas the common Price will 
be Three Half-Pence each Paper ; 'tis propos'd, for the 
Benefit of Subscribers, that they shall have it at One 
Penny : The Subscription to continue for One Year, 
payable Quarterly, but the Quarterage to be paid per 
Advance. 

Subscriptions will be taken in at Mr. James 
MacEuen's and William Brown's, Booksellers in Edin- 
burgh, where Subscribers are to call for their Papers ; 
the first of which will be publish'd about the Beginning 
of January next."* 

The projectors sought for the necessary sanction 
for publishing the paper from the Town Council, 
but actually anticipated their permission. It was 
granted 

"At Edinburgh, the 24th day of December, 1718. 
The same day the Councill, upon ane petition given in 
be Mr. James McEuen, stationer, burgess, they for the 
reasons therein contained, authorised the said Mr. 
James to publish ane news paper under the title of 
Edinburgh Evening Courant thrice every week, and 
to be publicly sold within the citle, liberties, and 
priveledges thereof During the Councill's pleasure, 
and dischai^ed all other persons to print or publish 
any new's paper under that title, the said Mr. James, 
by his acceptation hereof, being obliged to answer the 
Magistrates and Councill for the time being for what 
he shall print and publish, and before publication to 
give ane copple of his Print to the Magistrats," etc. 

The words " By Authority " appeared for the 
* Quoted in " Sdinbniigh Newspapers," by William Norrie. 



first time on No. 8 (Monday, December 29 — 
Tuesday, December 30, 1718). The journal had 
" Evening " inserted in the title, so that the name 
might not impinge on the rights of any who might 
still retain an interest in the paper of 1710. 

In their opening statement, the promoters pro- 
mised to be up-to-date : 

"Hitherto our newspapers have been very partial, 
tame, and defective, or otherwise stuffed with un- 
certain, ill-digested, false, or frivolous accounts." 

They also emphasise the statement of their " pro- 
posals " that their arrangements will put them a 
post in advance of the ordinary London mails : 

"Thus it has happened this very last post by which 
we have received three foreign mails, whereof there is 
little more than mention made In the London prints." 

But while thus proclaiming their endeavour to 
forestall their London contemporaries, the pro- 
moters of the Courant, like their neighbours, were 
largely indebted to them. The paper copied as 
much as possible from foreign journals at first 
hand, and in token of its bona fides in the trans- 
cript informed its readers that tne original papers 
could be seen at any time at " the Royal Coffee 
House or some other Coffee House in Edinburgh." 
This foreign news occupied practically the whole 
available space. Home news, as was usual, was 
at a discount. Advertisements were at first slow 
in coming in, but by midsummer, 1720, three 
pages were devoted to them. 

From the first the Courant took a good place. 
Its only rival was the Scots Courant, which carried 
on the tradition and work of the Courant of 1705. 
Shortly after its start, a contemporary Nvriter said 
that 

" it thrives so far as to be very well liked by all except 
the violent Jacobites, who hate it for no other reason 
but because it is a true and impartial paper. Several 
gentlemen, who have had the London papers sent 
them, have laid them aside, because this contains the 
substance not only of them but of the foreign posts 
also." 

The permission to publish granted by the Town 
Council assumed a definite censorship over the 
printers : it was not long before they attempted to 
enforce their claims : — 

"All the copies of a certain number issued in Februaiy, 
1723, were seized by the Magistrates, in consequence 
of their containing a very little paragraph regarding a 
Mr. Patrick Holden, then under probation before ^e 
Lords of Session as presentee of the Crown for a seat 
on the bench— he being a mere creature of the Minis- 
try and unfitted for the office of senator, to which 
eventually he does not seem to have attained. Indig- 
nant at the remark. 'We do not hear of any great 
discoveries yet made to his prejudice,' the judges 
inflicted punishment upon McEuen who was compelled 
in his next issue to apologise to his country subscribers, 
and explain why they were not served 'with that day's 
Courant, as also why we have been so sparing all along 
of home news.'"* 

It was not long before the magistrates found 
another occasion for interfering. In June, 1725, 
a riot, known as the '* Shawfield Riot," took place 

« Grant's " Old and New Edinburgh," I., 287. 



36 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[September, 1906 



in Glasgow over the Malt Tax. On the Monday 
after the event, McEuen, who seems to have been 
the responsible head of the concern, printed an 
account of the riot, in which he said that the 
Glasgow magistrates and soldiers had done their 
best to suppress it. This statement did not suit 
the Edinburgh Council, who, for a reason of their 
own, wished it to be thought that their Glasgow 
brethren were art and part in the disturbance. 
They accordingly tried to browbeat McEuen into 
giving their version of the affair a place in his 
paper. But McEuen was a burgess of the western 
city, and stoutly refused to comply, "whereupon," 
says Wodrow, who tells the story,* " this lying 
and partial account was printed by the Caledonian 
Mercury^ a Jacobite paper." Not to be outdone, 
the Glasgow magistrates forwarded to their 
champion their account of the attitude they had 
taken. The existence of this document became 
known to the Edinburgh provost, who forthwith 
forbade its appearance in the Courant. McEuen 
had to comply with the injunction, but the account 
nevertheless saw the light from a private press, 
which, within an hour after its issue, was raided 
by the authorities. It was a queer affair, and 
justly warrants Wodrow's description of it as ** an 
odd step; . . . first to cause print a lybell, 
and then to stope the liberty of the press and the 
toun of Glasgou's necessary vindication of them- 
selves." 

James McEuen, who had fallen heir to the 
circulating library started by Allan Ramsay, and 
who in turn passed it on to the possession of 
Alexander Kincaid, whom he assumed as partner 
in his business, continued to be the printer of the 
Courant till 1732. In 1825 the paper appeared 
with two woodcuts in the title, one of which was 
inscribed Fama volat. Previous to 1832, the im- 
print ran " Edinburgh : printed by Mr. James 
McEuen & Co., and sold at the shops of the said 
Mr. James McEuen and Mr. James Davidson, and 
by Robert Fleming at the Printing House in 
Pearson's Closs opposite to the Cross, where ad- 
vertisements are taken in. Price i^d." The 
words "By Authority" had by this time dis- 
appeared, and occasionally no imprint was given. 
Specimens of the essays which seemed so neces- 
sary to the men of that age were sometimes in- 
serted. The imprint of No. 839, Monday, March 
27, to Tuesday, March 28, 1732, however, became 
" Edinburgh : printed for and by Robert Fleming, 
and sold at the Printing House in Pearson's Closs, 
and by several booksellers in town. 1732." In 
the previous numbers the absence of the courtesy 
title "Mr.," before Fleming's name, had been 
conspicuous in the imprints. The change of the 
imprint seems to indicate that at a bound Fleming 
passed from being a mere salesman of the paper 
to being its owner. The new proprietor so far 
departed from tradition that he admitted poetry 
occasionally. 



Wodrow'B "Analecta," III., 213. 



Fleming retained control over the journal for 
many years. In January, 1745, the imprint ran, 
" Edinburgh : printed by Robert Fleming and 
Alexander Kincaid, and sold at the said Alexander 
Kincaid his shop a little above the Cross, and at 
the Printing House in Pearson's Close." It was 
the year of the Rebellion, and the Courant took 
up a position of violent hostility to the Pretender, 
so much so that, as Robert Chambers* says, '* the 
editor was burnt in ef!igy at Rome on the loth of 
June, 1746." While the rebel army was distant 
from Edinburgh, the Courant held high language 
of contempt. A poem appeared addressed to the 
" Young Chevalier," which began "Presumptuous 
Youth." WTien the Highlanders reached Perth, 
they were described as "a pitiful, ignorant crew, 
good for nothing, and incapable of giving any 
reason for their proceedings, but talking only of 
Snishing, King Jamesh, ta Rashant, plunter, and 
new progues." As the Highlanders neared Edin- 
burgh, the tone was distinctly modified, and on 
the day when the rebels encamped at Corstorphine, 
Monday, September 16, the journal suppressed its 
imprint. The number for the following day had 
the ordinary imprint, and in addition contained 
this note: — 

"Bv order of Mr. Murray of Broughton, Secretary, 
E<Uubarg)i, September the 18th. Since our last, t^e 
Prince witli liis Highland anny has tajcen possession 
of this place ; but we must refer you for particulars to 
our next." 

That number, however, did not appear for a week, 
and was then occupied mainly with an account of 
the battle of Prestonpans. It had no imprint — 
the imprint was not resumed till November 5, 
1745. By this time the Prince had left Edinburgh, 
and the Courant celebrated the occasion by giving 
*' His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both 
Houses of Parliament," and the loyal addresses 
made in response. 

As the Courant increased in years, so it also 
increased in size and price. Its price was of 
necessity largely dependent on the taxes imposed 
on newspapers qua newspapers, and on advertise- 
ments. On January i, 1753, it appeared as a 
4 pp. folio with three columns to page. It was 
still sold by Fleming, but at " the first stair below 
the Laigh Coffee House, opposite to the Cross, 
north side of the street" It said: 

"As we are now provided with a large size of paper, 
wo take this opportunity to express our acknowledg* 
meiits to the public for tlie encouragement we have 
hitlierto met with. It was this kind reception and 
the great increase of the spirit of advertising, that 
determined us long a^o to applv to the Stamp Office 
for such paper, by which we might be enabled to give 
the public a large quantity of news, and sometimes 
papers of entertainment." 

Undoubtedly those who bought the journal for its 
news and not for its advertisements had reason to 
complain. Out of twelve available columns the 
*' spirit of advertising" absorbed all but three. 

* " History of Rebellion,- I., 28a 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



37 



Some confusion crept into the office in 1758, for 
all the issues from October 14 to December 30 
bear the monotonous number 9558 — a figure which 
it is impossible to understand. Before 1767 pub- 
lication days were changed to Monday, Wednes- 
day, and Saturday. 

In 1779 the proprietorship was modified, and 
the imprint became ** Edinburgh : printed for and 
sold by Fleming and Ramsay, Old Fishmarket 
Close, where advertisements," etc. At the same 
time the appearance of the journal was consider- 
ably altered. The city arms were inserted in the 
title, and the printing was better done, new type 
being employed. In September, 1785, Ramsay's 
name alone is inserted as proprietor. For the 
first time, on the 3rd of that month, " Printed by 
David Ramsay, Old Fishmarket Close," was in- 
serted immediately below the title, and " Sold by 
David Ramsay, Fishmarket Close," at the end of 
the last column on the last page. The Ramsay 
proprietorship continued till i860. Under their 
sway the Courant took premier place among the 
journals of the capital — a place from which it was 
deposed only by the Scotsman. In the first half 
of the nineteenth century it stood, as a contem- 
porary affirmed, **at the head of the Scottish 
newspaper press in point of advertising, and 
among the highest in circulation." It led the way 
in inserting private letters, and while the events 
of the French Revolution were in progress its 
conductors succeeded in procuring and printing 
intelligence almost as soon as the London papers. 
The last of the Ramsay imprints appeared in i860, 
and ran in the name of the " Trustees of the late 
Patrick Rigg Ramsay." 

For a good part of its history the Courant^ like 
its contemporaries, had no official who could be 
termed the editor in its modern meaning. The 
ordinary newspaper was a thing of shreds and 
patches, and the printer simply collected into the 
same sheet what came to him from various 
quarters. The nineteenth century, however, 
showed that a change in this mode of conducting 
a newspaper was needful, and the Courant had to 
appoint a regular editor. The name of the earliest 
editor I have met with is that of George Houy, 
a man whose history reflects no credit on the 
journal. While conducting the Fife Herald^ he 
had acquired a reputation for living beyond his 
means, and when he came to Edinburgh to take 
charge of the Courant in 1826 he did not abandon 
his extravagance. In a little over a year he fied 
the city, leaving behind him forgeries to an 
enormous amount. Many tales are told of his 
daring effrontery. He was succeeded by David 
Buchanan, who had had editorial experience on 
the Weekly Register and the Caledonian Mercury. 
Buchanan was the son of that David who intro- 
duced the first printing press into Montrose, and 
had himself a certain fame as an economist. He 
continued in office till his death at Glasgow, 
August 13, 1848, in his seventieth year. His 
conduct of the paper was fully to the mind of its 



proprietors. Despite his age and increasing ill- 
health, they declared that age and illness " neither 
impaired his mind nor lessened his diligence, as 
his latest articles evinced the same vigour and 
power, the same clearness and conciseness which 
distinguished his early contributions." 

For several months after Buchanan's death the 
journal remained without an editor, and during 
the interregnum it suffered somewhat in prestige. 
At last, in 1849, Joseph Robertson was chosen 
from among several candidates. He had acted in 
a similar capacity on the Aberdeen and Glasgow 
Constitutionals y and more than justified his ap- 
pointment. When he died in 1866 the Courant 
said that *'on the accession of Mr. Robertson 
its prosperity was immediately restored, and was 
year by year enhanced during his able manage- 
ment." His reign, however, was short: in 1853 
he was appointed to the Keepership of Scottish 
Records in the Register House, Edinburgh. 

Dr. Robertson was succeeded by William 
Buchanan, who had served on the Ayr Observer ^ 
and who is said to have been recommended by 
Sir Arthur Helps for the post. For long years 
the Courant had, like its contemporaries, no 
political leanings. As the nineteenth century 
advanced it took on a Conservative bias, but when 
the condition of the party in Scotland necessitated 
an official organ, and the Courant was chosen for 
the purpose in i860, Buchanan resigned. On the 
recommendation of Lord Stanley, James Hannay, 
of literary celebrity, was appointed in his room. 
In the beginning of the same year several signifi- 
cant changes had been effected in the paper. On 
January 2 it appeared as a daily at the price of 
one penny, 4 pp. folio, six columns to the page. 
At the same time the time-honoured name was 
altered to the simple Daily Courant, and a semi- 
weekly issue on Tuesday and Friday at the price 
of 2d. was undertaken. The imprint on the daily 
issue ran : *' Printed and published for the pro- 
prietors daily at the Courant Office, 188 High 
Street, in the New South Parish in the County 
of Edinburgh, by William Veitch of 188 High 
Street." In announcing these changes, the Courant 
spoke of the prosperity of Scotland during its 
career, and added that 

" the spirit and enterprise with which it (tlio Courant) 
haB complied as necessity called it has been rewarded 
with a continuous prosperity, every new adaptation 
of form contributing to maintain and increase its hold 
upon tlie contldence and esteem of Scotland." 

The old name was reverted to on Thursday, 
November i, i860, the price of the semi- weekly 
edition being raised to 3d. The editor thought it 
necessary to justify his reversion to the title, 
'* which had been familiar to the Scottish public 
since 1718." He said: 

"Tiie sliRht anomaly involved in retaining the 'Even- 
ing' part of our title is counterbalanced by other 
considerations of convenience, and will be pardoned 
in a country where such trifles have never weighed 
against the advantage of retaining identity of descrip- 
tion and form." 



38 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1900 



The word was retained till December 16, 1871, 
when it was for ever dropped. The old name was 
retained as a running title for one number. 

Evidently the price of one penny for the paper 
proved a strain on its resources, for on announcing 
the amalgamation of the Edinburgh Post and 
Scottish Record with the Courant on October 2, 
1 861, the editor complained that the same public 
who would not grudge expenditure upon other 
articles would yet '^look upon us as insane if we 
charged them twopence for the Courant.^' 

Hannay's management of the paper brought it 
into some notoriety. He was outspoken in his 
attacks both on persons* and abuses, and wished 
to walk a way all his own. Four years after he 
had relinquished the editorship (which he did in 
December, 1864), Hannay contributed to Temple 
Bar a paper entitled "Recollections of a Provin- 
cial Editor," in which he gave a roistering account 
of his connection with the Courant. A few 
sentences run : 

"For a time I was assisted by the advice of a com- 
mittee of three persons connected with the Journal. 
Some public questions arising, one of the three main- 
tained a certain view of ib in our columns, and was 
attacked hy another of the trio in another letter next 
day. This, I think, was the first glimpse I had of the 
admirable unity of our party in the North. . . . 
Among other prompt discoveries was this, that I must 
set my face against being made an instrument in the 
perpetration of mean jobs. There was an old law case 
going on then, and perhaps still, called the Shilpit 
Case. I was absolutely requested by the agent of the 
proprietors to insert a leading article on one side of 
the question, written or inspired by a partner of the 
defendant, who had married the defendant's cook. Of 
course I refused point blank.'* 

Hannay seems to have enjoyed his experiences in 
** Reekyboro'," but there was incompatibility 
between him and his post, and he resigned. He 
was succeeded by Francis Espinasse. 

The reign of Espinasse was notable. He found 
the financial position of the paper very bad. 
Certain enterprises he inaugurated, however, 
helped the journal, like the investigation he con- 
ducted into the state of the poor in the city. 
When the Derby- Disraeli administration took 
office, an eifort was made to turn the Courant 
into a more effective party journal, and for this 
purpose it was, on the suggestion of Sir Stafford 
Northcote, in 1868 bought by Charles Wescomb, 
who was or had been an English mayor, and had 
already become proprietor of the London Globe. 
The arrangement proved a most unhappy one. 
The son of the proprietor was appointed manager, 
and his behaviour became most offensive to his 
colleague. Adopting Hannay's name for the 
proprietor, Espinasse says: 

"The new regime did not last long, and partly dis- 
appointed the Scottish Conservative patrons and dupes 
of 'Wegglefe.' . . . 'Weggles' junior had disap- 
peared suddenly into space, and ' Weggles ' senior into 
the grave. His death involved the ruin of widows and 
orphans and others in the West of England. An un- 

* A specimen Is referred to in Mrs. Oliphant's " Life of 
Principal Tolloofa. 



known quantity of the money subscribed for the 
Courant tuul been devoted by * Weggles ' to the support 
of a very questionable establishment in St. John's 
Wood." 

By this time Espinasse had resigned. The paper, 
too, necessarily changed hands. On September 
II, 1869, it appears to be published by George 
Dominy for a proprietor who died on August 15, 
1870. The journal was put on the market some 
months after, and the result is seen in the imprint 
for November 14, 1871, when Dominy is set down 
as publishing the paper for the Scottish Newspaper 
Company. Dominy's name is dropped out on 
August II, 1873. Between Espinasse's withdrawal 
and the discontinuance of the paper, it was in 
charge of several editors. The succession was — 
James S. Henderson, James Mure, and W. R. 
Lawson, who "saw it die." 

As an auxiliary to the Courant ^ the Evening 
Express was started in 1880. No. i, Saturday, 
March 6, 1880. 4 pp. folio, six columns to the 
page. Printed and published for the proprietors 
by G. Gillies, at No. 12 St. Giles Street, in the 
High Church Parish in the County of Edinburgh. 
The Express professed to have no politics — "it 
makes its appeal to no one section or party," but 
this was in word rather than in practice. It also 
declared it intended to cater for ladies whose 
journalistic needs had been neglected. The 
Express, however, was a weakness to the Courant 
all along, and it ended with the parent journal. 

The end came with the issue for February 6, 
1886. It was then incorporated with the Glasgow 
News, and the joint journal was published in the 
Western metropolis under the name of The Scottish 
News. It is noteworthy that its disappearance 
synchronised with the accession of Gladstone and 
the Liberal party to power. The Courant, in 
announcing the change, said that 

"Tlie proprietors, ... in taking this step, are 
adapting their journal to the necessities of the day"; 

but the combined paper lasted for a very short 
time. When the change was made, the Scotsman. 
was jubilant. Its only serious rival was removed, 
and its vials of scorn were poured out on the 
paper which, although liberally subsidised, could 
not yet contrive to exist. The Courant, it said, 
had "died from want of nourishment. . . . 
It had an honourable youth and manhood, and a 
miserable and decrepit old age." 

"It has had to print the letters of correspondents 
whose effusions had for good reasons been refused 
publication elsewhere. It has had to defend Lord 
Randolph Churchill, to preach protection, to teach, %m 
far as it could, the new Toryism ; and it has found an 
unmerciful deliverance at the hands of Mr. ReginiUd 
Macleod. Who can wonder at the death ? Who can 
fail to pity it?" 

The defunct paper, however, left an honourable 
residue behind it in the " Courant Fund," which 
for a number of years has been worked for the 
benefit of poor children. 

A notice of the Edinburgh Courant would be 
incomplete without a reference to the claim re- 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



39 



peatedly made during the last years of its exis- 
tence, viz., that it was the journal which started 
in 1705. Sometimes the claim was made without 
qualification, and at other times in such a hesitat- 
ing manner as to show that some doubt existed in 
regard to its legitimacy. The testimony of the 
Courant itself is not beyond reproach, for it 
vacillated between independency of the 1705 paper 
and a full claim of descent from it. In 1838 its 
own pages declared it to be " Established 1718." 
On January 2, i860, however, the unqualified 
statement is made that it was *' exactly 154 years 
since the first impression of the Courant appeared." 
In the following November the editor is not so 
confident. Speaking of the title, the Edinburgh 
Evening Courant, he said it had 

"been familiar to the Scottish public siDce 1718. 
There were CourarUs earlier than that, which we are 
entitled to claim in our ancestry, but we are content 
to date from the period when we assumed this exact 
appellation— two years before the existence of our 
oldest Edinburgh contemporary " — 

that is, the Caledonian Mercury , which beg^n in 
1720. The advertisement offering the paper for 
sale in March, 187 1, blunderingly stated that it 
was *' established in 1718 under the editorship of 
Daniel Defoe.*' In the last years of its life, 
" Established 1705 " was boldly printed on each 
issue, and the concluding number, in its "swan 
song," as confidently referred to itself as 

" The Courant which was established in 1705 as a small 
sheet at a high price, and has on several occasions 
changed its form and varied its price." 

It will thus be observed that the claim grew more 
sturdy as the paper grew more feeble, and when 
men who were complete strangers to its past were 
in possession of it. So far as I can discover, the 
first hint of the claim is to be found in the his- 
torical notice of the journal which Dr. Robertson 
printed in its columns in 1850. 

The early history of the three Courants put it 
beyond question that the journal which died in 
1886 went no further back than 17 18. The second 
Courant, instead of being a continuation of the 
first, was intended to suppress it, as is abundantly 
proved firom the fact that each of them sent out 
separate issues on March 20, 17 10. The first had 
no connection with the third, because they ran 
alongside of each other for nearly two years, if my 
conjecture that the Scots Courant was the con- 
tinuation of the Courant of 1705 is true, as I have 
no doubt it is. The second Courant had obviously 
no connection with the third, for an interval of 
eight years elapsed between them. Besides all 
this, the Courant of 17 18 inserted the word 
" Evening" in the title, with the evident intention 
of letting all interested know that it drew a dis- 
tinction between itself and the earlier journals. 
If anything more is needed to prove that the three 
papers stood aloof from each other, it is to be 
found in the fact that they had all different pro- 
moters and printers. It is to be feared that the 



Courant which ended in 1886, had its age in- 
creased for purposes of advertising only. 

26 Circus Drive, W. J. Co u per. 

Glasgow. 



Adam King.— The Scottish Text Societ/s 
publication for 1901, "Catholic Tractates of the 
i6th Century," contains Adam King's translation 
of Canisius* "Catechism and Kalendar of Saints," 
printed at Paris in 1588. The editor, the late 
T. G. Law, LL.D. apparently knew no more 
about this Scottish writer than what could be 
gleaned from the title page of his book : that he 
had been a professor of philosophy and mathe- 
matics in the University of Paris. If Dr. Law 
had looked up Dempster's " Historia Ecclesia- 
stica Gentis Scotorum," No. 1,090, under the 
heading of "Adamus Regius," he would have 
found both the Catechism and Kalendar men- 
tioned amongst King's writings, also his Latin 
poems, and a treatise, "De Theoria Planetarium." 
He would have learned likewise that King had 
retired from his French professorship to his 
native city, Edinburgh, and was in practice there 
as an advocate and commissary. If Dr. Law 
had also consulted the " Delitiae Poetarum 
Scotorum" (1637), he would find Adamo Regio 
(Adam King) well represented with a poem on 
the nativity of Our Savioiu- ("Genothliacon lesu 
Christi **), a panegyric on James VI. succeeding 
to the English throne, and a supplement to 
Buchanan's 4th book, " De Sphsera," 610 lines, 
and another supplement of 82 lines to the 5th 
book. These two additions to Buchanan are 
included in Ruddiman's edition, 2 vols., 4to, 
1725, and are eulogised by Dempster as "an 
elegant and erudite work." King died in Edin- 
burgh in 1620, and his library was sold for 
2,000 merks to Robert Monro of Cantullich. 
{Vide " Baunat. Miscell.," 1836, Vol. II., p. 190.) 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



Freemasonry Terms. — Freemason.— Tyl- 
ing a Lodge,— fis. freemason could produce ac- 
curate and ornamental work in freestone, that 
is, a sandstone which could be easily split in any 
direction. Freemasons at a job had a small 
lodge or hut, usually roofed with tiles. Before 
beginning to speak of any matter requiring 
secrecy, all apertures between the roof and the 
walls were closed up. The officer whose duty 
it is to secure privacy at Masonic meetings is 
called the tyler — a term derived from Latin 
teguluy a tile, through French tuile, a tile. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



40 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1906 



GORDON BOOK-PLATES. 
(2nd S, , IV, , 177, 178; V. , SO. ) 



The following notes on Gordon book-plates 
are supplementary to what has already been 
written. They are extracted from the "Sale 
Catalogue I of the well-known | extensive and 
valuable collection of | Book- Plates | (ex-libris) 
I of the late | Julian Marshall, Esq. | Sotheby, 
Wilkinson, & Hodge, London, May, 1906," pp. 
90-91. Lots 384-387 consisted of 135 examples 
of book-plates. Mr. J. Malcolm Bulloch may 
be able to trace the purchaser of these items. 
1 herewith append the list of those whose names 
are briefly described in the catalogue : 

(Gordon) anon., Chippendale ; (Gordon) At- 
chivement of the Right Honble. John, Earl 
of Aboyn, 1719, early armorial^ rare ; James 
Gordon of Gordon Bank, early Jacobean^ by 
Burden ; Gordon of Halleaths, Chippendale ; 
Gordon of Carnousie, Jacobean ; Edwd. Gor- 
don, Chippendale ; John Gordon, Chippendale ; 
Alexander Gordon, Jacobean ; Robert Gordon 
of Hallhead, Chippendale, two states ; Mrs. 
Gordon, Chippendale, lozenge \ Jams. Gordon, 
Chippendale, by Gretton ; Sir Ernest Gordon of 
Park, Bart, and Park, 177^6, Jacobean, two states 
of the sante plate \ (Gordon) 2Jior\., Jacobean ; 
Henry Wm. Gordon, Jacobean, two different 
plates ; James Gordon of Cobairdy, Jacobean ; 
(Gordon) anon., Chippendale, bookpile ; Gordon 
of Earlestoun, Bart., early armorial ; Thomas 
Gordon, Chippendale, trophy ; (Gordon) Right 
Honourable the Viscount of KGnmore, Jficobean ; 
(Gordon) Visct. of Kenmore, Chippendale; Alexr. 
Gordon of Crogo, Jacobean ; Honble. John 
Gordon of Kenmore, Chippendale ; Pryce Lock- 
hart Gordon, pictorial, two impressions, one 
printed in red ; T. Gordon, 50th Regt., Chippen- 
dale, trophy, QoxAono{QxA\%, Jacobean; (Duke 
of Gordon) ^.non., Jacobean ; The Arms of His 
Grace Cosmo George, Duke of Gordon, Jaco- 
bean, two sizes ; (Duke of Gordon) anon., 
Jacobean, two states ; The Arms of Her Grace 
Henrietta, Duchess of Gordon, early armorial ; 
Mr. Cosmo Gordon, advocate, and Mr. Baron 
Gordon, Jacobean, two states of the same plate ; 
Robert Gordon of Cluny, 17 10, early armorial, 
a very rare little Scotch plate; Charles Gordon 
of Abergeldie, Chippendale; Sr. William Gordon 
of Inver Gordon, Bart., early armorial; Dr. 
James Gordon of Pitlurg, early Jacobean ; Dr. 
James Gordon, Jacobean, by T. Smith ; Lewis 
Gordon of T^chmuxx^, Jacobean; William Gor- 
don of Craig, Chippendale ; Gordon of Ard- 
mealie, and Robt. Gordon of Logie, Jacobean ; 
Cha. Gordon, Chippendale ; Alexander Gordon, 
Chippendale; Atchivement Gordon of Glen- 



bucket, early Jacobean ; Alexr. Gordon of Cul- 
venan, advocate, Jacobean ; Fredricus Gordon, 
Pharm., Dublin, Jacobean ; Lieut. Col. Thos. 
Gordon, First Regt. of Foot Guards, Chippen- 
dale, trophy. 

Anyone who has looked at books published 
by subscription long ago will be at once struck 
with the numbers of Gordons who supported 
and influenced writers of merit, and how in 
many instances books were dedicated and pre- 
sented to them. Let me cite one in particular, 
which is well known to local book collectors. 
1 refer to William Thom's second edition of 
"Rhymes and Recollections by a Hand-loom 
Weaver." The presentation reads thus : 

This Book is Presented 

TO 

EMMA KATHERINE GORDON, 
Lady of Knockespock, 

BY 

The Author, 

Who had the happiness for a time to be a sharer 
in the general gladness of her home; where 
many, as well as he, regret 

She leaves, when autumn weary 
Bids winter waste the plain ; 

She looks on lands mair cheary 
'Til ours are green again. 

Oh, would she dwell amang us 
Where dales are deep wi' snaw, 

Dour winter could na wrang us, 
Nor simmer seem awa*. 



Knockespock, 

September, 1844. 

Aberdeen. 



Robert Murdoch. 



Scotsmen in the Russian Navy (2nd S., 
III., 5; VI., 171; VII., 45).— The Aberdeen 
Jourmil of 25th July this year mentions the 
death at Warsaw of Lieutenant-General J. G. 
Macdonald, a descendant of one of the many 
Scottish soldiers of fortune who settled in Russia 
in the days of Peter the Great, or during the 
eighteenth century. Born in 1853, Macdonald 
passed through the Nicolas Engineering School, 
and entered the service of the Navy. He 
directed the reconstruction of the forts at 
Kronstadt, and he built new forts there, while 
he was the moving spirit in constructing the 
Russian naval base at Libau in the Baltic pro- 
vinces, now known as the "Czar Alexander III. 
Harbour." In the Far East Lieutenant-General 
Macdonald was responsible for a number of 
fortifications. He is described as a type of 
officer that is only too rare in Russia. 

Robert Murdoch. 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



41 



FORFARSHIRE AS A FACTOR IN 
SCOTTISH LIFE AND THOUGHT. 



That an Angus ecclesiastic should have had 
the chief share in drawing up a State paper so 
eloquently expressive of a heroic nation's resolve 
is no small honour to the people of this shire, 
and, doubtless, the recollection of that fact must 
have helped to kindle a patriotic glow in many 
a subsequent son of Angus who was privileged 
to exhibit a similar spirit of steadfast resolve in 
the future emergencies and crises in which they 
were called to take part. Who, for example, 
can fail to catch an echo of this noble remon- 
strance in the brave words used once and again 
by another Forfarshire man, the heroic Andrew 
Melville, when, in defence of what he regarded 
as the crown rights of King Jesus, he dared to 
repel the threats addressed to him by the then 
regent, the tyrannous Earl of Morton, in the 
indignant and contemptuous speech, "Tush ! 
sir, threaten your courtiers in that fashion. It 
is the same to me whether I rot in the air or 
in the ground. The earth is the Lord's ; and 
my fatherland is wherever well-doing is. I haiff 
been ready to giff my life whair it was nocht 
half sa Weill waired, at the pleasour of my God. 
I leived out of your country ten years as \vt\\\ as 
in it. Yet, God be glorified, it will nocht lie in 
your power to hang nor exile His truth." Some- 
times, exclaims a recent commentator on this 
scene, words show as true valour as the doughtiest 
deeds of battle, and give the man who has uttered 
them a place for ever in the book of honour. 
"They even pass into the storehouse of our 
most cherished legends, and as often as crises 
occur in our history which make a severe de- 
mand on our virtue, they are recalled to stir the 
moral pulse of the nation and brace it to its 
duty." No man, I believe, in Scottish history 
has left his country a richer legacy of this kind 
than the Forfarshire ecclesiastic whose services 
we are now recalling. 

But perhaps a nobler and more characteristic 
speech was that which some years later the same 
heroic leader ventured to deliver to the very 
king himself when that monarch was bent on 
destroying the spiritual freedom of the Scottish 
Church. " Sir," exclaimed the intrepid defender 
of the liberties of the Kirk, as he took His 
Majesty by the sleeve to speak to him the more 
freely, "Sir, we will humbly reverence Your 
Majesty, always namely in public, but sen we 
have this occasion to be with you in private, and 
the truth is, ye are brought in extreme danger 
baith of your life and crown, and with you the 
country and Kirk of Christ is like to wrack for 



not telling you the truth and giving you a faith- 
ful counsel, we man discharge our duty thairin 
or else be traitors baith to Christ and you. And, 
thairfer, sir, as divers times before, so now again 
I man tell you, thair is twa kings and twa king- 
doms in Scotland. Thair is Christ Jesus, the 
king, and His kingdom the Kirk, whase subject 
King James the Saxt is, and of whose kingdom 
nocht a king, nor a lord, nor a head, but a 
member." " Where," cries the eloquent author 
from whom I have already quoted, " Where did 
a subject ever use a manlier freedom with his 
sovran ? When did mere titular kingship more 
plainly shrink into insignificance in presence of 
the moral majesty vested in the spirit of a true 
man?" And in view of all the influence that 
such a noble life as Andrew Melville's has exerted 
upon his country, who does not feel that there 
was little if any exaggeration in the judgment 
which James Melville passed upon his uncle 
when he said concerning him that "Scotland 
never received a greater benefit at the hands of 
God than this man." For assuredly he is one 
of those great personalities of our history who 
have left us an example of the moral daring 
which is the greatest property of the human 
soul and the spring of its noblest achievements. 
"It is to men like Melville, who have a higher 
patriotism than that which is bounded by any 
earthly territory, whose country is the realm of 
Truth, whose loyalty transcends submission to 
any human sovran, that every people owes its 
noblest heritage. Such are the men who have 
been the makers of Scotland. Sic fortes Etruria 
crevitr And to the crowded ranks of those hero 
spirits whom our Scottish Etruria has produced, 
few Scottish shires have, I believe, contributed 
a more conspicuous share than has the little 
shire on our eastern sea board, bordering on the 
cold North Sea, of which we are wont to speak 
as " the Land of the Lindsays." 

That I am not exaggerating in making the 
claim that Angus has been well-nigh as con- 
spicuous in providing Scotland with great and 
worthy leaders as any other even of Scotland's 
most illustrious counties will be freely admitted 
I think, when I mention that among the spiritual 
heroes of Forfarshire are names so treasured 
and revered as those of Walter Miln, the last to. 
suffer martyrdom for the Protestant cause in 
Scotland, and of John Erskine of Dun, who may 
be described as the great torch -bearer of the 
Reformation in Angus and Mearns. Erskine, at 
an early age, travelled in Germany, where he 
formed a friendship with some of the leading 
Reformers. Then returning to Scotland, marvel- 
lously illuminated for these times, he became an 
ardent and successful evangelist of the new 



42 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1906 



faith, and to him the Wisharts of Pitarrow, the 
Melvilles of Baldovy and Dysart, the Stratouns 
of Lauriston and Whitstoun were indebted for 
the light of life and the Protestant principles 
which nerved two of them to accept the crown 
of martyrdom. But there were other Angus 
men scarcely less active reformers than Erskine. 
Among them I may mention those doughty 
champions of the Reformation the Wedderbums 
and Halyburtons of Dundee, whose exertions did 
so much to make of that Angus seaport, and the 
adjoining district, such a citadel of Protestantism 
as caused it to be known in that age as ''the 
Scottish Geneva." 

Among the Forfarshire names of that stirring 
epoch in our national history that are equally 
memorable with those already noticed, may be 
mentioned those of David Ferguson, the first 
Protestant minister of Dunfermline, a man of 
fearless and unflinching: integrity and outspoken 
candour; of James Melville of Anstruther, a 
figure in our Presbyterian Church life scarcely 
less noticeable than that of his more enterprising 
uncle Andrew ; of Alexander Leighton, too, the 
Puritan author, whose ears were cropped by 
Laud, and whose son — the more celebrated arch- 
bishop of the same name — was a patriot Chris- 
tian, who, though a man of a very different 
temper from his father, was yet animated by a 
no less heroic and reverent spirit. As types of 
the same sturdy and unbending manhood, figur- 
ing, however, at a somewhat later period in the 
great struggle of the Scottish Church for spiritual 
independence, I may here add those other Angus | 
names — James Guthrie, of Stirling,' one of the i 
protomartyrs of the Covenant, after the Restora- 
tion of the Stuarts in 1660; William Guthrie, of 
Fenwick, also, and James Durham, of Govan, 
two Covenanting leaders from this same shire, 
who, though they were spared to die in their 
beds, were, nevertheless, as brave-spirited heroes 
of the Presbyterian party as any even of the 
gallant stalwarts who were honoured " to glorify 
God in the Saltmarket," as they were then wont 
to express it, " by sealing their testimony with 
their blood." 

But why should I limit my list of Angus 
heroes to one side of Church politics when it is 
a fact that Forfarshire claims to have produced 
Cavalier and Episcopal champions so illustrious 
as James Graham, the great Marquis of Mont- 
rose — a man whom Lord Macauiay describes 
as worthy to be placed alongside the heroes of 
Plutarch, while Dr. Gardiner, the best historian 
of the Stuart period, enthusiastically affirms 
regarding him that, " when once he had chosen 
his side, he was sure to bear himself as a pjaladin 
of old romance ? If he made any cause his own. 



it was not with the reasoned calculation of a 
statesman, but with the fond enthusiasm of a 
lover. Nature had marked him for a life of 
meteoric splendour, to confound and astonish a 
world, and to leave behind him an imperishable 
renown and a name which would outlast the 
ruin of his hopes." 

I dare not say that many of the Episcopalians 
of Angus exhibited, either in the 17th centur>' or 
subsequently, much of the heroic quality of their 
great leader Montrose. But that he had many 
successors and imitators is proved by the fact 
that, in the next generation, they produced 
Jacobite leaders so conspicuous and illustrious 
as, on the one hand, John Graham, Viscount 
Dundee, the remarkable man known to the 
Presbyterians of the West as "the Bloody 
Claverse," while by his Episcopalian comrades 
of the East and North he was more affectionately 
designated as "Bonny Dundee"; and, on the 
other, as Sir George Mackenzie, the distinguished 
man of letters and judge, who prosecuted so 
many of the Covenanters and secured their 
conviction, and who as a consequence has been 
branded by Presbyterian writers as " the Bluidy 
Mackenzie"; while, as a token that the influence 
of Montrose did not soon die out, it may be 
further added that the Jacobite and Episcopal 
party continued throughout the i8th century to 
be very influential in many of the Forfarshire 
parishes. Thus in Montrose, Brechin, Glammis, 
Mary ton, Glenlee, and other parishes probably 
the majority of the people disliked the Revolu- 
tion Settlement and sympathized with the exiled 
Stuart family, while it is an undoubted fact that 
most, if not all, of the leading nobles were "out" 
either in the Rebellion of 171 5 or 1745 or in 
both. 

Nor was it, I may add here, exclusively in 
their native soil that the adventurous sons of 
this shire showed their courage and hardihood. 
For they were not stay-at-homes, these dwellers 
by the cold North Sea. On the contrary they 
have roamed far and wide over the earth, 
fighting as soldiers of fortune in foreign wars, 
scheming in the politics and bringing themselves 
forward as actors in the stirring events and 
shifting scenes of European history. "They 
fought in the wars of the Low Countries against 
the Spaniard, served in the Protestant army of 
Gustavus Adolphus, formed part of the Scottish 
Brigade in the pay of the United Provinces 
against the soldiers of Louis XIV., and have 
left their bones under a halo of glory on the 
banks of the Rhine. Many of them, too, settled 
in Poland and Russia, and gained distinction in 
the land of their adoption." Moreover, since 
Britain's colonial expansifui began in good 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



43 



earnest under Chatham in the i8th century, 
many sons of Angus have achieved honour in 
India, America, Australia, and Africa. One of 
the most recent illustrations of this fact, I may 
remind my readers, was given a few years ago 
by a representative of one of the oldest families 
in the shire— the gallant Earl of Airlie, who 
played, as will be remembered, no insignificant 
part in the recent war with the Transvaal 
Republic in South Africa. | 

And yet, how tenderly these wide-rangingheroes 
love their native land. From the far distant 
homes of their adoption as pioneers and colonists, 
in the remote plains of New Zealand or British 
Columbia, whither they have carried their 
strong powers of endurance, their practical 
sense and knowledge of worldly things, and 
where, perhaps, the hard side of their nature is 
most discernible, though, I believe, even there it 
is seldom unmingled with a vein of romance, of 
sentiment, and of feeling, as well as a keen 
appreciation of wit not often to be found in their 
Southern neighbours : I repeat, from practically 
every comer of the habitable globe the hearts 
of these faithful sons of Angus turn in passionate 
attachment to the well-remembered scenes of 
their boyhood's days. And, though he was not a 
Forfarshire man himself, I am persuaded that 
the late Robert Louis Stevenson was only giving 
expression to the deep-felt emotions of every 
exiled son of Angus, when, from his pleasant 
banish inent in the far South Seas, that most 
lovable of recent Scots writers sang sweetly of 
his pathetic longing to return once more before 
he died to breathe afresh the bracing air of the 
old homeland. The noble and thrilling lines 
are probably known to all my readers, but I 
cannot deny myself the pleasure of rehearsing 
them here : 

Blows the wind to-day, and the sun and the rain are 
flying, 
Blows the wind on the moors to-day, and now — 
Where about the graves of the martyrs the whaups 
are crying — 
My heart remembers now. 

Grey recumbent tombs of the dead in desert places, 
Standing stones on the vacant wine-red moor, 

Hills, of sheep and the homes of the silent vanished 
races, 
And winds, austere and pure. 

Be it granted to me to behold you again in dying, 
Hills of home, and to hear again the call ; 

Hear about the graves of the martyrs the peewit 
crying. 
And hear no more at all 

I need not refer at any length to the part taken 
by Forfarshire in the agitation for Parliamentary 



Reform and other liberal measures. I will only 
allude, before closing this hurried sketch of For- 
farshire's contribution to Scottish history, to the 
fact that, among the early champions and martyrs 
of that struggle, this Shire furnished such gallant 
and determined leaders as George Mealmaker, 
who was sent as a convict to Australia for being 
a dangerous political agitator, and, as Sir George 
Kinloch, who had to flee to France to escape a 
similar fate, as well as James Mill, his son, John 
Stuart Mill, and Joseph Hume, that incorruptible 
Radical, who did so much to expose and remedy 
the financial scandals of his day and generation 
in Parliament. 

In connection with the later movement that 
led to the formation of the Free Church ot 
Scotland, the men of this shire, though not so 
prominent as those of some other shires, yet 
played a characteristic and noble part It was 
here that the saintly Robert Murray Maccheyne 
began the great spiritual awakening, which, 
culminating under the ministry of that other 
Angus-born evangelist, the Rev. William Chal- 
mers Bums, and spreading to many other 
Scottish counties, did so much to prepare the 
people of Scotland for the heroic step of 1843, 
while among the leaders of that great move- 
ment, who were natives of this shire, may be 
mentioned the names of Dr. John Bruce, Dr. 
Thomas Guthrie, Dr, Samuel Miller, and Pro- 
fessor I slay Burns. 

Finally, it may be added that, in the move- 
ment of Scottish theological thought in the 
19th century towards a broader and more 
generous conception of what is essential to a 
true and valid Christianity, either in life or 
thought, this shire has contributed its fair share. 
For it will be remembered that Thomas Erskine 
of Linlathen, the real founder of Broad Church 
theology alike in England and Scotland, was 
identified with this county by residential connec- 
tion at least. And it was to Erskine, by their 
own confession, that Maurice in England and 
Macleod Campbell in Scotland were indebted 
for those conceptions of the Atonement which 
have had so great an effect on later English 
and American popular religious thought ; while 
in the United Presbyterian Church theological 
development the influence of George Gilfillan, 
and later of David Macrae of Dundee, has been 
equally felt in diffusing similar sentiments. 

Nor, I think, should I forget here to notice 
the fact that the initiation of the second and 
finally successful movement towards the union 
of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian 
Church was greatly facilitated, if indeed it was 
not positively set agoing, by the action of an 
influential body of elders and other office-bearers 



44 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1906 



of the Free Churches in Dundee, who a few 
years before 1900 began to agitate for the 
resuscitation of the negotiations which had pre- 
viously proved abortive. An interesting and 
suggestive fact, proving that Forfarshire is still, 
as in the whole past history of the Scottish 
Church, found well to the fore when there is any 
movement afoot for the advancement either of 
civil liberty or spiritual progress. 

And now, before concluding these general 
reflections, I would only like to add one further 
comment. It is this, that I And a source of 
personal satisfaction in the thought that the 
existing rationalizing school of Higher Critics 
in connection with the Scottish churches does 
not seem to have been largely reinforced from 
this shire ; while probably the most powerful 
preacher of the old orthodoxy in doctrine, as 
modified by a broad and genial culture, which 
our generation has seen, hails from Kirriemuir 
in Angus, in the person of Doctor Alexander 
Whyte of St. George's, Edinburgh. 

I have, I fear, by these discursory remarks, 
kept my readers too long from the analysis and 
review of that specific .ntellectual output of the 
district which is, after all, the most original 
and, I hope, the most valuable feature of these 
essays. Accordingly, I now invite attention to 
a brief summary of the conclusions in regard to 
the special character of the Angus intellect and 
its achievements, to which a careful considera- 
tion of my statistics has led me. 

The first point, then, which impresses me in 
connection with the Forfarshire intellect is this, 
that, unlike the intellect of Aberdeen, Argyll, 
and Banff, where the population has shown a 
predominant bias to secular pursuits, as contra- 
distinguished from those of a more idealist or 
spiritual character, Forfarshire, at least as it 
appears in my statistics, is distinctly character- 
ised by as idealising a faculty as we saw Ayrshire 
and Berwickshire to be in our essay on these 
counties. I hardly think it possible to account 
for the differences in this direction which my 
statistics reveal, but I can hardly believe it is 
altogether without significance that in each of 
these counties the population played a specially 
large part in the struggles, alike for the national 
independence and for spiritual freedom and 
ecclesiastical reform. There may also be some- 
thing in the fact that in each of these counties, 
while the original underlying basis of the popu- 
lation is Celtic, yet the intruding Saxon and 
Teutonic element has so successfully dominated 
and modified the Celtic as not only to force its 
own language on the combined people, but to 
stamp upon that people its own energy and 
serious steadfastness. 



It is interesting to note in this connection 
that I find on examination that the adjoining 
county of Perth also exhibits a preponderating 
bias in the intellect of its notable sons towards 
spiritual or idealist pursuits. In Perthshire, 
however, the idealising tendency has not taken 
the same bias as in Forfarshire. For while 
Perthshire's idealist predominance is due, in 
the first instance, to the exceptionally large 
number of ecclesiastics, spiritual teachers, mis- 
sionaries, and saints which that shire has pro- 
duced ; in Forfarshire, on the other hand, 
though the number of the notable sons of the 
county who have distinguished themselves as 
divines or saints is by no means small, yet that 
number has been considerably exceeded by the 
number of the poets and artists of various kinds 
that have been bom and reared within its 
bounds. It may be thought, perhaps, that this 
result is due to the exceptional research dis- 
played by Mr. D. M. Edwards of Brechin and 
Mr. Reid of Dundee, in the interesting and 
carefully compiled volumes in which they have 
enshrined so much out-of-the-way information, 
particularly with regard to the poets of their 
native shire. I am ready, indeed, for my part, 
frankly, to admit that, in all likelihood, the bias 
of what I may describe as local patriotism has 
something to do with the prominent place that 
Mr. Edwards has given to the bards of Angus 
in his voluminous work, entitled " Modern Scot- 
tish Poets." But having made large and in- 
dependent researches of my own for many years 
in the same field of inquiry, I am satisfied that 
the conclusion reached by Mr. Edwards is on 
the whole one that the facts warrant. Mr. 
Edwards places Forfarshire third on the roll of 
Scottish counties as he arranges them in respect 
to their relative fertility in poetical writers. His 
order is as follows : — 

1. Lanarkshire with 144 poets. 

2. Edinburghshire with 141 poets. 

3. Forfarshire with 1 30 poets. 

4. Aberdeenshire with 106 poets. 

5. Ayrshire with 72 poets. 

6. Fifeshire with 68 poets. 

7. Perthshire with 64 poets. 

Now, twenty years ago, in writing an essay on 
"The Poets and Poetry of Scotland," based on 
my own investigations, I also drew up a synop- 
tical table of the same kind as Mr. Edwards 
has done, and as the results reached by me 
correspond closely with those pubhshed by Mr. 
Edwards, it may be interesting to compare the 
two tables. The following, then, is my list, 
showing the order of merit relative to their 
fertility in poetical names reached by the first 



Vol. VIII., 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



45 



seven counties of Scotland, according to the 
information I had gathered twenty years ago : — 

1. Lanarkshire with 218 poets. 

2. Edinburghshire with 217 poets. 

3. Forfarshire with 171 poets. 

4. Aberdeenshire with 167 poets. 

5. Ayrshire with 161 poets. 

6. Perthshire with 139 poets. 

7. Fifeshire with 128 poets. 



W. B. R. W. 



To be ccntinued, 
* 



Still Room. — What is a still room? A room 
in a large mansion wherein the housekeeper 
and her assistant prepare tea and coffee for the 
family and visitors, and make preserves, cakes, 
and biscuits, and so on. It was formerly the 
workroom of the lady of the house when en- 
gaged in making household cordials, some of 
which required the use of a small still. In a 
smaller class of residence, this room frequently 
relieves the kitchen of all the lesser cooking 
and of pastry making. It should be near the 
store and housekeeping rooms. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



dluedes. 



769. Henry Shanks. — Is Henry Shanks, "the 
blind bard of Bathgate," who issued an interesting 
book in 1881, "The Peasant Poets of Scodand," 
with original pieces, still alive ? If so, he must be 
nearing his eightieth year. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

770. A. J. Warden. — In 1864 Mr. Alex. J. 
W^arden, of Dundee, published an able and exhaus- 
tive work on " The Linen Trade, Ancient and 
Modern." He was also author of a history of the 
County of Angus, in several volumes. I saw an 
allusion to him as " the late." When was the date 
of his death ? Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

^X. Peter Paterson.— About the close of the 
fiiues of last century there was published in Edin- 
burgh " Reminiscences of the Scottish Stage," by 
Peter Paterson. It was written in a genial and 
graphic style, and contained many droll original 
anecdotes. Was " Peter Paterson " an assumed 
name ? Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

772. ** Thole, and Think On!"— Such is the 
quamt inscription upon an old, weather-stained, 
moss-encrusted tombstone in Liberton Kirkyard, 



near Edinburgh. At first I thought that it was the 
stump of a tree, as it was solitary, but on wading 
through the long grass I found that it was a stone. 
' It startled me, this voice from the grave, but on 
reflection I considered that the admonition was 
' addressed to the descendants of "the poor inhabitant 
I below." The rudiments of a romantic tale are con- 
cealed in this counsel. Was it a story of grievous 
wrong unredressed, or of a bloody feud unavenged ? 
"Endure, yet remember," "Sufrer, but dinna for- 
get" — such is the meaning, as I take it, of this 
singular warning. Is there any account of this stone 
in the history of Liberton ? I cannot glean any- 
thing here. Alba. 
Melbourne, Australia. 

773. The Clan Maclean. — In 1838 there was 
published by Smith, Elder, & Co., London, a 
"Historical and Genealogical Account of the Clan 
of Maclean,* from its First Settlement at Castle 
Duart, in the Isle of Mull, to the Present Period. 
By a Seneachie." Who was this clan historian? 
He expresses his obligations to Mr. Charles Hope 
Maclean, seventh son of the 13th Laird of Ardgour, 
for defraying the expenses of publication. The book 
extends to 356 pages, and is brought up to date, full 
memoirs being given of the chiefs, eminent clansmen, 
and collateral branches. Amongst the curious in- 
formation embodied in it is a brief memorial of the 
Swedish Counts Maclean, their progenitor being 
Sir John Maclean (youngest son of Hector Gig of 
Duart), who was knighted by Charles I. and sent on 
a mission to Sweden in 1641. When the Civil 
War broke out in Britain, he married and settled in 
Gothenburg. Five of his sons entered the Swedish 
service, and became distinguished soldiers. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

774. Farquhars in Longside, Aberdeenshire. 
— Additional information is wanted on the under- 
noted Farquhars who are buried in the Longside 
churchyard : — 

(i) Erected by | James Farquhar, | Longside, 
to the memory of his | wife, Ann Henderson, who 

I died 26th November, 1822, aged 35 years; | also 
two infant children. | The above James Farquhar, 

I died loth April, 1851, aged 79 years. 

(2) Erected | by | John Farquhar, Merchant and 
Bank Agent, | Mintlaw, | in memory of | Elizabeth 
Farquhar, his wife, who died | 27th November, 
1871, aged 57 years; | and their son, | William, 
who died 20th October, 1849, aged 2 years ; | here 
also is interred the above John Farquhar, who 
died 24th December, 1886, aged 80 years. 

(3) In I memory | Charles Farquhar, | Bank 
Agent, I Mintlaw, { born 12th August, 1849, died 
23rd January, 1897. 

One of the above surname informs me that several 
hail from the district near the Hill of Fare, one of 
whom is said to have written a history of the clan. 
I have failed to ascertain whether the history was in 
MS. or it it appeared in print. No references can 



46 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1906 



be had either in Mr. Robertson's or Mr. Kelias 
Johnstone's bibliographies of Aberdeen, etc. 

Robert Murdoch. 

775. William Farquhar, 1724, Author. — 
What is known of this author or his descendants ? 
The late William Ferguson, LL.D., of Kinmundy, 
mentions him in his book, ** Twelve Sketches of the 
Scenery and Antiquities on the Line of the Great 
North of Scotland Railway " (Edinburgh : David 
Douglas, MDCccLxxxiii.), illustrated by George Reid, 
R.S.A., at p. Qi, when writing on Tilquhillie Castle 
— a MS. in the Advocates Library printed by the 
Spalding Club, entitled: '* A Description ot the 
Parish of Upper Banchory in the Merns, by William 
Farquhar, a.d. 1724" — thus mentions Tilquhillie : — 
**Tilquhilly is on the south side of Dee, one mile 
from and opposite to Banchory. A moss, south 
therefrom three-quarters of a mile, is called the 
Mulloch." Robert Murdoch. 

776. McPhekson alias McWillie. — The fol- 
lowmg entries appear in the Inveravon Parish 
Registers : — 

John McWillie, alias McPherson, in (this) 
Parish, and Elspet Stuart in the Parish of Glen- 
bucket, were matrimonially contracted January 
3d, 1752, and being orderly proclaimed and no 
objection made, were married Janry 28th. 

John McLean and Elizabeth McPherson, alias 
McWillie, both in this parish, after being matri- 
monially contracted and regularly proclaimed, 
were married July gth, 1771. 

I should be glad of any information respecting 
descendants of the above, particularly as to the name 
now borne by descendants of the first-mentioned 
couple. H. D. McW. 



Budwets. 



193. W. J. LiNT0N*s Origin (2nd S., IIL, 185 ; 
IV., 16 ; Vn., 94). — At the back of a family tomb- 
stone in Longside Churchyard the following inscrip- 
tion will be seen: — "In Memory of | Alexander 
Linton, farmer, Baluss, | who died April 8, 1837, | 
in the 8oth year of his age ; | his wife, Margaret 
Catto, i died April 10, 1794, | aged about 30 years. { 
As a debt of gratitude their grandson, | Alexander 
Johnston, farmer, Pettymarcus, | erected this memo- 
rial, 1879." I Robert Murdoch. 



707. Brodie (2nd S., VII., 175). —The surname 
of Brodie is held by some Scottish antiquaries to 
be purely Pictish, derived from Brudi (Latinized 
Brudaeus), the last king of the Picts, a.d. 833. Brudi 
is no myth, for his name, more or less changed, 
occurs in all our early historieR, and even in the 
Chartulary of St Andrews. "Brodie" is certainly 
Scotch for a little board, but such a sophistical 
derivation will not suffice for an ancient and reput- 
able family like that of the Brodies, which can be 
traced before 1300. The name is likewise spelt 



I Brothie in old deeds, and this might give the modern 
iconoclast a wrinkle to infer that the first of the 
name was a dwarfish cook, for there is a tendency 
nowadays to belittle everything. Yet we have such 
surnames still, varied considerably, and with " Mac" 
or "son" tagged to them, as Fergus, Diarmid, 
Angus, Niall, Dovenald, Connal, Gregor, Ferquhard, 
Dugall, Alpin, DufTus, Ross, and Duncan — names 
of the mighty chiefs of a remote past : then why not 
Brodie, adopted from the last king of Pictland, who 
by all accounts was a brave and sagacious leader ? 
I dare not say that the present possessors of such 
names are descendants, although in Highland 
genealogies they are maintained to be taken from 
some eminent warrior. Doubtless many of those 
surnames were adopted in honour of the early 
chieftains. The late George Brodie, Historiographer 
for Scotland, was ironically complimented in Black- 
wood^ 5 Magazine upon " his Pictish patronymic" 
" Brodiesford," taking a common-sense view, would 
simply mean a ford first used by one named Brodie. 
Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

744. The Haigs of Bemersvde (2nd S.,VIII., 
12). — Mr. Robert Murdoch invites comments on 
" T. D. W.*s" statement about the Haigs of Bemer- 
syde in the December issue of The Scottish Review. 
In response, I crave permission to liberate my soul 
on the matter, (i) It is possible that hag in the old 
Scottish tongue meant "wood" or "trees," and 
that the old family name of the Bemersyde family, 
" Haga," was pronounced with a corresponding 
vowel sound. The word haig, however, did not 
signify " wood " or " trees," but was applied to a 
woman — a gadabout female — running from place to 
place to tell tales of her neighbours. (2) It is certain 
that for many generations — almost from the days of 
true Thomas himself — the couplet attributed to him 
has been understood to mean persons. " Haigs of 
Bemersyde," or "Haigs in Bemersyde" (as Chambers 
has it), is doubtless the correct form — not "Haigs on 
Bemersyde" (as "T. D. W." attempts to amend it). 
(3) If Haigs (whose name was pronounced "Hags") 
were in Bemersyde in the Rhymer's time and long 
before it, and if the word hag bore at that period 
the meaning assigned to it by " T. D. W.," it stands 
to reason that Thomas the Rhymer, a learned man 
and a scholarly, was quite aware of the received 
signification, and penned his couplet (we assume 
that he did pen it) with the ambiguous sense of the 
word clearly before his mind. "T. D. W." seems 
scarcely sufficiently alive to the difficulties surround- 
ing a " seer's" position among his own people. He 
objects to the word " Haigs" meaning persons, but 
appears quite content to tie it down to mean trees, 
\Vhy tie it down either to persons or trees ? Give 
the " seer " as much rope as he needs. Why insist 
that Thomas had distinctly in view the full meaning 
of his couplet when he penned it ? This would be 
asking more from him than is even required of the 
prophets of Scripture, many of whose predictions 
are supposed to have a double fulfilment, not always 
fully present to the prophet's mind. Thomas the 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



47 



Rhymer was, no doubt, a man of great natural 
shrewdness and sagacity, whose insight enabled him 
intellectually to perceive the elements of permanence 
and durability discernible in the Haig family charac- 
ter, and whose common sense led him to observe 
the unlikelihood of trees ever disappearing altogether 
from the policies of Bemersyde. The double mean- 
ing of the word '*Haig" {persons or trees) afforded 
the very kind of chance in which the mind of a 
"seer" delighted to revel. It gave him his oppor- 
tunity. It enabled him to have two strings to his 
bow. If the prediction or sagacious utterance or 
whatever we like to call it failed as regards persons^ 
it might still hold good as regards trees. Nowadays 
we do not credit the "seer" of secular history with 
any supernatural power of divination. All that is 
claimed for him is a capacity to read the signs of 
the times, together with the abilit-y to express himself 
in words capable of bearing a double meaning, or to 
construct sentences susceptible of interpretation in 
opposite ways. The recipe for the making of a 
secular "seer" is really quite simple. Given a ruler 
of adventurous disposition, reckless, foolhardy, fond 
of rushing into danger, and what is to hinder the 
" seer " predicting a day of mourning and lamenta- 
tion lor the ruler's country ? Many of the vaticina- 
tions of ancient classical times depended to a large 
extent on the ambiguous nature of the utterance. 
The response of the oracle in the case of Pyrrbus 
was equally fitted to satisfy him or his enemies, the 
Romans. Even Scripture itself is understood in 
one instance to chronicle a prophetic utterance that 
is palpably ambiguous. Why not, then, allow Thomas 
the Rhymer his due meed of praise for shrewd fore- 
sight whether we read "persons" or "trees" into 
his couplet ? W. S. 

748. William Mackay (2nd S., VIII., 13). — 
Two authors of this name are mentioned in AUibone's 
" Dictionary." One of these, who wrote " Narrative 
of the Shipwreck of the Ship Juno," was the son of 
a north country minister, but died, I think, in 1804, 
and cannot be the Mackay wanted. The other, the 
author of " Tales of a Traveller at Home and 
Abroad," published in 1851, may have been the 
same as the writer of the poem on " Heaven." 
Whether he was " the real Mackay '* I cannot say, 
but assuming "poet" and " traveller" to have been 
the same person, I incline to believe him the son of 
Lieut. -Colonel William Mackay of the 68th Regi- 
ment, whose wife, also a Mackay, was a hymn- 
writer and authoress of several popular religious 
stories. S. 

749. HuTTON, Hepburn, Lidderdale (2nd S., 
VIII., 13, 31). — I am much obliged to "Amateur" 
for the reply re Hutton, Hepburn, Lidderdale. My 
ancestors, Hutton of Hutton Hall, Cumberland, are 
not extinct in the younger generation. My eldest 
brother, Colonel Thomas Bruce Hutton, is now the 
head. I am told the Fullertons may come from 
Dudwich, and the Urquharts probably from Bards- 
yard in Morayshire. E. C. Wienholt. 



754. Lawrances in Usan (2nd S.,VIII., 13). — 
On the faith of two directories dated respectively 
1852 and 1873, it may be asserted with some con- 
fidence that the name Lawrance has now become 
extinct in Usan. S. 

755. What is a "Tap" or "Tapion"? (2nd 
S., VIII., 13). — I take it to have been the small 
round ball of coloured yarn, attached to the upper 
part of the harness, dangling over the horse's head, 
and presumably intended to prevent flies settling 
upon and annoying the animal. Is the"tapion" 
now in use ? The word does not occur apparently 
in any dictionary. S. 

756. Curious Figures on a Tombstone (2nd 
S., VIII., 14). — If I rightly apprehend Dr. Milne's 
description, the figures he describes appear to be 
intended for the Christian symbols of Life, Death, 
and Immortality. The mushroom-shaped growth 
proceeding from the ear of the skull may perhaps 
represent some kind of grain — "it may chance of 
wheat, or of some other grain." Although con- 
siderably earlier than the period of the tombstone, 
might not Allen's ." Christian Symbolism in Britain 
before the 13th Century" help Dr. Milne to some of 
the information he is in search of? Clericus. 

757. Barbara Gordon (Mrs. Farquhar) (2nd 
S., VIII., 14). — In all likelihood she was connected 
with the Gordons of TomnavoUan, a family from 
which the Rev. J. F. S. Gordon, author of "Scoti- 
chronicon " and other works, was descended. 

W. 

758. Buchanan Hospital (2nd S.,Vni., 14). — 
The Buchanan Cottage Hospital, St. Leonards, 
Sussex, was established in 1881. The only notable 
Buchanan I am able to connect with the county was 
Robert Buchanan, Socialist lecturer and editor, 
father of the " Poet of Revolt," who died at Bexhill, 
Sussex, in 1866. S. 

761. Adam Donald (2nd S., VII I., 28). — In reply 
to "Alba," who thinks Adam Donald lived from 
1820 to 1832, and asks for the date of his death, I 
have it before me— "The Life and History of Doctor 
Adam Donald, Prophet of Bethelnie. Peterhead: 
Peter Buchan, 1817." The pamphlet ends with the 
following sentence: "This strange character, who 
caused so much speculation in his time, was born at 
Bethelnie in the year 1703, and died in the year 
1780." W. L. T. 

Peterhead. 

764. George Blair, M.A. (2nd S., VIII., 29). — 
In " Report of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, 
1866," p. 164 (Alphabetical List of Ministers and 
Licentiates, 1765 to 1867), Mr. Blair is stated to 
have been a native of Scotland, educated at St. 
Andrews, sent to Canada from the Church of Scot- 
lund, ordained in 1843, and made Superintendent of 
Schools. But there is no mention of him in the 



48 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [September, 1906 



body of the report, and in the list he is only called 
"licentiate.-' James Gammack, LL.D. 

765. Moses Provan (2nd SoVIUmSq). — Moses 
Provan died in 1871. *'Alba" should see "The 
Glasgow Athenaeum : a Sketch of Fifty Years' Work, 
1 847 -1 897," by James Lauder, F.R.S.L. Glasgow: 
St. Mungo Press, Limited. 1897. 

Evan Odd. 



After painfully examining a number of local his- 
tories, registers of testaments, and sundry other 
documents of a like description, I am driven to con- 
clude either that Glasgow is astoundingly ignorant 
of its greatest men or that "Alba" is poking fun at 
the Western metropolis. The only person I have 
been able to discover answering to the name in the 
query is Moses Provan, a baker in Glasgow, whose 
will, dated August 27, 1762, probably indicates the 
proximate period of his decease. Neither the pro- 
fession, however, which no doubt he adorned, nor 
even the drafting of his own will (if he did that) 
would entitle him to be called " a prominent literary 
man." I am at a loss too to understand what 
"Alba" means by the " Glasgow Athenaeum " which 
Moses Provan is said to have founded. Is it the 
institution of that name now in Buchanan Street, or 
a publication called The Atheneeum issued by Glas- 
gow students in 1830? On neither supposition, 
however, can Moses Provan be made to fit in. The 
Glasgow Athenaeum, so the local histories tell one, 
was instituted in 1847 under the municipal sway of 
Lord Provost Hastie, and Charles Dickens was 
brought down to preside at the first of its soirees in 
the City Hall. No such person as Moses Provan 
(as far as one's eyesight may testify) emerges from 
amid the welter of names, more or less illustrious, 
present on that occasion. On the other supposition, 
while the publication called The Athetiaum was 
ostensibly conducted by students whose names, of 
course, are forgotten, it was really managed and 
largely contributed to by Thomas Atkinson, a Glas- 
gow bookseller, of whom a critic (Henry Glassford 
Bell, to wit) declared that he " never had been and 
never would be a student." In order that St. 
Mungo's city may no longer incur the reproach of 
an ungrateful memory, would "Alba" condescend 
to explain when Moses Provan lived, and what 
writings of his made him prominent ? 

Chappie. 

766. Neil McAlpine (2nd S., VIII., 29).— The 
first edition of McAlpine's " Pronouncing Gaelic 
Dictionary," published in 1832, bears on the title- 
page to be the work of "Niel [sic] McAlpine, Student 
in Divinity, Island of Islay, Argyllshire." The 
edition was published in Edinburgh, printed for the 
author, and " sold by all the Booksellers in the 
Kingdom and on the Continent; also by all the 
Schoolmasters in the Highlands.'* A MS. note on 
the copy I have seen states that McAlpine was a 
schoolmaster in Islay and an authority on the 
Gaelic language as spoken in that island. It may 



reasonably be inferred that he was a native of 
Argyllshire, and that he aspired to be a minister, 
probably in connection with the Church of Scotland. 
His ambition does not appear to have been realised. 
Probably he lived and died a schoolmaster. His 
"Dictionary" proved to be extremely popular. 
Besides the one for 1832 above noted, various other 
editions are mentioned, of which the 7th was issued 
in 1878, while the last came out in 18S1. 

S. 

767. Bernardus Paludanus (2nd S.,VIII., 29). 
— Bernardus Paludanus or Ten Broeke, a Dutch 
traveller and physician, said also to have been a 
professor of philosophy at Leyden, was born in 1550 
and died in 1633. He wrote valuable notes on 
Linschot's " Voyages Maritimes." W. S. 

768. James Murdoch, Author (2nd S.,VIII., 
29). — I can add but little to the information fur- 
nished by Mr. Robert Murdoch regarding this writer. 
In Weuckstern's "Bibliography of Japan," three pub- 
lications are entered to the credit of "J. Murdoch," 
presumably the "James Murdoch" of the query — 
(i) " Report on the Religious Tract Society in 
Japan," by J. Murdoch, Glasgow, 1882, 8vo, pp. 11 ; 
(2) "Ogawa's Scenes and Sights of the Tokiado," 
21 plates, with text by J. Murdoch; (3) "Burton's 
Scenes from Open-air Life in Japan," 14 phototypes 
executed by K. Ogawa, with text by J. Murdoch, 
Yokohama, 1893, oblong folio, pp. 18. 

W. 



Scots JBoolis of tbe /IDontb* 



Anwyl, Edward, M.A. Celtic Religion in Pre- 
Christian Times. F'cap 8vo. Net, is. 

Constable. 

Elliot, Lieut. -Col. The Hon. FItzwilliatn. 

The Trustworthiness of Border Ballads. Crown 
4to. Net, I OS. 6d. Blackwood. 

Qoodrich- Freer, A. Outer Isles. Illustrated 
by Allan Barnard. Demy 8vo. Net, 5s. 

Constable. 

Stevenson, J. H. The Ruthven of Freeland 
Peerage and its Critics. F'cap 4to. Net, 5s. 

Maclehose, Glasgow. 



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SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL. VIII. -| ISIn >i 



October, 1906. 



KsaiSTERBD 



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Price 3d. 
PxR Post 4d. 



CONTENTS. 

Notes :— Page 

ProfeMor John Stewart and his Papil William Grant 49 

Forf arabire at a Factor in Scottish Life and Thought 50 

Aberdeen- American Graduates 55 

The Cant Family 58 

Some of Dr. John Leyden's Inedited Poemi 60 

MnroK Notes :— 

Woods of Bonningrton— The Forbes Family—The 

Harder of Two Sons of Gordon of Ellon 53 

Gilbert Blackhall, S.J.— The Andersons of Mudhouse 

— StUl Eoom 54 

Brodie and Hoare Families— Two Aberfoyle Epitaphs 57 

Brodie, Hichie, and Gauld Families 59 

Folk-Lore of Baptism— Place-Names, Dialects, and 

Folk-Lore of the North of Scotland 61 

B. Mary's Chapel, Aberdeen 62 

Queries :— 

Origin of Names "Beinn lutham Mhor"and "Beag" 
— John Helton— Priest Gordon— The Name McKel- 
vie— Burke's " Landed Gentry" 62 

ASSWKRS: — 

An Old Seal of Aberdeen 62 

The Haigs of Bemersyde — Sir Hugh Halcrow— Grace 
before Meat — Adam Donald— James Clyde, LL.D. 63 

Glasgow Book— George Blair, M.A.— Moses Provan— 
A. J. Warden 64 

Soots Books op the Month 64 



ABERDEEN, OCTOBER, igo6. 



PROFESSOR JOHN STEWART AND 
HIS PUPIL WILLIAM GRANT. 



The following copy letter may be of some 
interest. Tammore's only son, William, to 
whom it refers, had a somewhat chequered 
career, but at his death held the lucrative ap- 
pointment of Collector of Customs at St. Lucia, 
conferred on him by General Grant of Ballin- 
dalloch on the conquest of that island by the 
latter in 1 779 : — 

Sir 
This goes w**» your Son, who hath attended 
my Class for the Elem" of Geometry and Tri- 
gonom^, and likewise my private Class for the 
pratical Parts of Mathem^^: which he hath done 
to my great Satisfaction : for I scarce ever have 
had any under my Care w^such a Genius for that 



Study : and I think he has improven his Time to 
very good account: and hath behaved himself 
decently and regularly in every Respect, so that 
I hope he shall be a Comfort to you and all his 
Concerns — As he has a very good Turn for 
Mathem* I suppose You will think it proper to 
continue to prosecute his Studys in that way (q<^i> 
he much inclines himself) in q*^^ case I wou'd begg 
You'll allow him to come up as soon as possible 
next Session of College : and so much the rather 
that the Faculty of the College have entered into 
a Resolution to oblige all our Bursars, under pain 
of Deprivation, to be here agt the io**» of Nov', 
that the teaching Masters may then fall to their 
Business: which We find necessary in order to 
make Academical Education more beaeHcial to 
our Students : so that it's expected Gentlemen 
will take care their Sons be sent in at least as 
soon as they would regard their Children's Advan- 
tage in their Education. 

I received 5o»^» from your Son ; and am oblidg'd 
to You for your good paym^ I shall take all the 
Pains upon him I can ; and so much the rather as 
I am pretty sure I shall have Satisfaction and 
Credit by him. I heartily wish him all Success 
in this and all his other Studys : and am w^^ true 
Respect 

Sir Your most obliged humble Servant 

John Stewart 

Aberdeen Aprile iS*** 1745 

Endorsed : 

To 
Robert Grant 
of 
Tammore 

Tammore married Margaret, daughter of 
George Gumming of Recletich, another daugh- 
ter, Janet, having married Alexander Gordon in 
Craigwillie. Tammore's son, William, is very 
frequently mentioned in the M SS. " William 
Grant younger of Tammoir" is mentioned in 
the Boharm Parochial Registers as one of the 
witnesses at the baptism of William, son of 
William McWilliam and Jean Cuming in 
Wester Galdwall. This circumstance (assuming 
that the witness was Tammore's son) may in- 
dicate a connection between Tammore's wife 
and the goodwife of Wester Galdwall, the latter 
having belonged to the Lochtervandich familv. 

H. D. McW/ 



so 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



FORFARSHIRE AS A FACTOR IN 

SCOTTISH LIFE AND THOUGHT. 

(2nd S., VIII., pp. 17, 4t.) 



It thus appears that, thoujjh my figures largely 
exceed those of Mr. Edwards, the result reached 
is almost identical with his. Indeed, the only 
difference is that, while Perth occupies the 
seventh place on Mr. Edwards's list, it stands 
sixth on mine, and I give the seventh place to 
Fife and not to Perth. 

I may, however, be asked here : Has the 
addition which the last twenty years have made 
to the number of poetical names connected with 
all the Scottish counties not affected the relative 
position of these counties to each other ? My 
reply to that question is : Scarcely at all. True, 
Forfar is now second on my list with 259 names, 
while Edinburgh has receded to the third place 
with only 226. But this remarkable improve- 
ment in Forfar's position arises, I suspect, from 
the fact that recently I have had the opportunity 
of ransacking for fresh names Mr. Stuart Reid's 
comprehensive and carefully compiled antho- 
logy, " The Bards of Angus and the M earns," 
a work which is a particularly good example of 
what a county anthology should be. Taking 
that fact into consideration, I believe that in the 
near future, when my information regarding the 
poets of Midlothian approximates in complete- 
ness to my present knowledge of the bards of 
Angus, the metropolitan county will easily 
regain its former place. Meanwhile it is only 
fair to say that, as at present informed, the 
seven premier Scottish counties, considered 
from the point of view of the number of poetical 
names that they can claim, stand thus : — 

1. Lanark with 262 names. 

2. Forfar with 259 names. 

3. Edinburgh with 226 names. 

4. Aberdeen with 212 names. 

5. Ayr with 1 59 names. 

6. Perth with 147 names. 

7. Fife with 136 names. 

It is perhaps worth noticing here that these 
seven counties are the very counties which, as 
I have shown in an earlier part of this essay, 
occupy the premier position among the other 
Scottish shires for fertility in notable names of 
all kinds. But suggestive as that fact is, there 
is a conclusion I draw from the comparatively 
backward place occupied on my lists by the 
peculiarly Celtic districts of Scotland, which 
seems to me more noteworthy still. For, con- 
trary to the common idea that the Celtic genius 



is more susceptible to poetic and artistic in- 
fluences than is the Teutonic or Saxon, my 
statistics seem to point to the opposite con- 
clusion. Thus I cannot think it wholly without 
significance that, with the exception of a small 
part of Perthshire and perhaps also of Aber- 
deenshire, not one of the seven premier Scottish 
counties is now Celtic— at least in speech, 
whatever may be true of the racial character- 
istics of theii" inhabitants — while the view 
which a fact of this sort suggests must, I think, 
be strongly confirmed by the following vidimus 
of the respective places taken by each of the 
remaining Scottish counties, when viewed re- 
latively to their individual contributions to the 
grand total of Scotland's poets. I place the 
twenty-five names in tabular form to make the 
lesson they teach more impressive, for I think 
it is impossible for any one to cast an eye over 
the results I exhibit without recognising that, 
if my figures are trustworthy, they prove that 
the Celtic Scottish shires come far behind the 
Saxon shires alike in addiction to and success 
in the poet's craft. The following table speaks 
for itself. It begins with the eighth Scottish 
county in succession to the seven premier 
counties already enumerated, and reads thus : — 

8. Renfrew with 113 names. 

9. Roxburgh with 95 names, 
la Berwick with 80 names. 

11. Dumfries with 76 names. 

12. Argyll with 66 names. 

13. Stirling with 51 names. 

14. Inverness with 49 names. 

1 5. Dumbarton with 46 names. 

16. Kincardine with 44 names. 

17. Kirkcudbright with 43 names. 

18. Clackmannan with 39 names. 

19. Haddington with 35 names. 

20. Banff with 34 names. 

21. Peebles with 33 names. 

22. Selkirk with 28 names. 

23. Linlithgow with 28 names. 

24. Ross with 27 names. 

25. Orkney and Shetland with 23 names. 

26. Elgin with 16 names. 

27. Wigton with 1 1 names. 

28. Sutherland with 10 names. 

29. Caithness with 8 names. 

30. Kinross with 6 names. 

31. Bute and Arran with 5 names. 

32. Nairn with 2 names. 

Now, if the facts which I have here presented 
mean anything — and they were certamly com- 
piled without any bias or partiality to one 
theory rather than another — they . seem to 
suggest that it is not where the Celtic blood is 



Vol VHI. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



SI 



purest, but where it is most mixed with Saxon, 
Danish, and other foreign elements, that the 
taste and the talent for poetry are most widely 
diffused. And this is all the more remarkable 
because the purely Celtic population inhabits 
exactly those parts of the country which, from 
the beauty and sublimity of the scenery, seem 
most calculated to stir the Muse's fire, and to 
nurture a poetic soul ; for, with the exception of 
Perthshire, which is not, moreover, a purely 
Celtic county, there is not a single Highland 
county which has produced a respectable list of 
poets ; and when, on an analysis of the 147 
Perthshire poets on my lists, no fewer than 104 
bear the Saxon patronymics of Adamson, 
Anderson, Brown, Beattie, Hogg, Sharpe, 
Taylor, Webster, Gray, Reid, Sand, etc., and 
only 43 bear the Celtic patronymics of Campbell, 
Fraser, Buchanan, Grant, Maclaggan, MacDuff, 
etc, one begins to suspect that it is due to its 
Teutonic population more than to its Celtic that 
Perthshire stands so well among its sister 
counties as a producer of poetic genius. 

Returning, however, from these speculative 
regions, in which it must be confessed one's 
footing is not too secure, and directing our 
attention for the moment to the poetic output 
of Forfarshire alone, I fear I must admit that 
here I am rather in a difficulty. For, with a 
population so prone to rhyming as is the case 
with the natives of this shire, one would naturally 
have expected that some, at least, of the more 
important Scottish poets would have been of 
Angus birth. But this unfortunately is not the 
case. It is true that Forfarshire presents a 
doubtful claim to have given birth to Gawain 
Douglas, the translator of Virgil and one of the 
best of our early Scottish poets, as well as to 
Alexander Scott, the so-called " Scottish Ana- 
creon." It is also true that Thomas Hood, who 
sang the " Song of the Shirt " and wrote many 
other fine lyrics, was of Forfarshire extraction, 
and in early youth lived in Dundee, though he 
was born in London ; and that, greatest of all, 
the English poet, Robert Browning, had at least 
this connection with Forfarshire, that his mother 
was born and bred in Dundee. Nevertheless I 
must frankly acknowledge that, of the 259 poetic 
names that appear on my lists, few have attained 
more than local celebrity, though Alexander 
Laing of Brechin, the Leightons of Dundee, 
Professor John Nicoll of Glasgow University, 
and some others, have produced songs and 
lyrics that are deservedly popular. On the 
whole, however, notwithstancling the number of 
the sons of Angus that have plied the Muse's 
trade, it is not by her poetry that Forfarshire 
has most deeply and permanently influenced 



either the spiritual or social development of 
Scotland. 

On the other hand, the artists of this county, 
though comparatively few numerically — my lists 
contain only 28 names — reckon among their 
number prominent representatives of the graphic 
art like William Aikman of Cairnie, the friend 
of Thomson the poet, and one of the earliest of 
Scottish artists to win recognition in England. 
To his respectable name must be added those 
of Colvin Smith and the Simsons of Dundee, 
as well as that of George Paul Chalmers of 
Arbroath, a painter who is admittedly one of 
the greatest of Scottish colourists. 

In music, also, Forfarshire, while by no 
means backward, can boast of few names of 
more than local celebrity. I have the names of 
a goodly number of violinists and of one great 
vocalist, Helen Jolly Mitchell, known as Madame 
Melba, who is a native of Broughty Ferry. I 
have also the names of a few musical composers, 
including that of James Smeaton, as well as 
that of James Love, organist, Falkirk, who has 
biographed most of our Scottish writers of psalm 
tunes ; but it cannot be claimed for Forfarshire 
that any of our greatest Scottish musicians have 
emanated from its borders. 

Singular to say, it is quite otherwise with the 
histrionic art. For, though I have very few 
actors on my lists, one of them was the great 
American tragedian, Edwin Forrest, a player 
who, though a native of Montrose, occupied a 
position on the American stage very similar to 
that once held by Garrick, Keen, Macready, or 
Irving on our own. 

The philosophical writers of this county, I 
observe next, are also comparatively few. Inas- 
much, however, as James Mill is one of them, 
the great thinker who was the founder of the 
English school of Philosophic Radicals, and as 
the influence of that school, through the writings 
of his greater son, John Stuart M ill, at one time 
dominated the thought of the chief English 
universities, and as that influence, though much 
abated, is yet by no means wholly lost, it cannot 
be denied that in that direction the impact of 
Forfarshire on both Scottish and English 
development has been powerfully felt, and has 
produced very notable results, some of them not 
entirely evil. It is true that the sensational 
philosophy of the two Mills, with its tendency 
to materialism and scepticism, has never been 
the popular philosophy of the Scottish people, 
and that, since the death of Dr. Bain, it has 
had absolutely no representative among the 
philosophical teachers of our land. Neverthe- 
less, by the reaction provoked as a consequence 
of its remorseless analysis of all thought and 



52 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



feeling and association, it has done not a little 
to produce the spiritual philosophy which , as 
represented by the Seths, Hutchison Stirling, 
Jones, and Adamson, now reigns in all our 
universities. 

It is a noteworthy fact, as evincing the practi- 
cal tendency of the idealising mind of the natives 
of Angus, that natural history and science have 
had more attractions for them than speculative 
philosophy. My tables contain the names of 
no fewer than 53 persons who have gained 
distinction in such pursuits. Many of these 
savants of course are comparatively undis- 
tinguished, but some of them are unquestionably 
illustrious, as will be readily acknowledged when 
I mention that among them stand the names of 
(i) the famous geologist. Sir Charles Lyell, an 
author whose great work, "The Principles of 
Geology," may be ranked next after Darwin's 
"Origm of Species" among the books which 
have exercised the most powerful influence in 
the direction of scientific thought in the 19th 
century. For that work eflfectually broke down 
the belief in the necessity of stupendous con- 
vulsions in past times, and taught, as had long 
before been maintained by Hutton and Play- 
fair — the latter author by the way, I may re- 
mark, being also a native of Angus — that the 
greatest geological changes may be produced 
by the forces still at work on the earth. (2) 
Alongside of Sir Charles Lyell I would place 
the name of Robert Brown, the eminent botanist, 
a man of European reputation, and whose 
many and valuable contributions to his favourite 
science secured for universal approval the title 
conferred on him by Alex. Von Humboldt of 
"facile princeps botanicorum." It is interesting 
to know that in George Robert Milne Murray, 
F.R.S., the present Keeper of the Botanical 
Department of the British Museum, the reputa- 
tion of Forfarshire in this branch of science is 
still being well maintained. Had I space, I 
could easily add here many other names scarcely 
less distinguished than those already mentioned, 
and adorning well nigh every natural science ; 
but I forbear, and close my notice of the great 
part the men of Angus have taken in this in- 
teresting field of research and discovery by refer- 
ring to a humble and obscure Dundee teacher, 
J. B. Lindsay by name, who, though little heard 
of either in his own day or since, deserves to be 
commemorated as a singularly fniitful and 
suggestive pioneer of scientific thought. For I 
believe it was he who, some fifty years ago, 
discovered and practically demonstrated the 
possibility of that wireless telegraphy which is 
creating so much interest in our own day, and 
which seems to have a great future before it. 



It is not, however, in pure science that the 
men of Forfarshire have been most conspicuous. 
It is rather in the varied walks of prose literature, 
including journalism. Here, out of 173 names 
which my tables contain, not a few are names 
of first-rate importance. I cannot, of course, 
attempt to characterise many out of that long 
list. But, in addition to the two Mills and 
Thomas Hood already named, and to Lyell the 
geologist, and Barrie the novelist, also previously 
mentioned, I may rehearse here the names of 
Hector Boece, an early and quaintly interesting 
Scottish historian ; Henry Guthrie, too, the 
biographer of Montrose; William Maitland and 
William Guthrie, two creditable historians and 
miscellaneous writers of the i8th century, as 
well as Patrick Abercrombie, whose "Martial 
Achievements of the Scottish Nation" is a 
permanent memorial of Scottish patriotism ; and 
John Gillies, the historian of Greece, not for- 
getting Professor Nichol, the astronomer, Robert 
Stephen Rintoul, the founder and editor of the 
Spectator newspaper, and Charles Lowe, the 
biographer of Bismarck, and long Berlin cor- 
respondent for the London Tunes. 

I might easily add greatly to the above list, 
but must hasten on to notice the divines, re- 
formers, evangelists, missionaries, etc., whom 
this county has produced. They number no 
fewer than 1 34, belong to all the churches, and 
many of them have played a most influential 
part in the religious life of the country. This 
will appear evident when I mention that my 
tables contain the names of no fewer than 15 
bishops and other dignitaries of the Romish 
Church, and when I further remind you that at 
the Reformation period this region furnished a 
specially large number of the leaders of that 
movement. Among the earliest and most im- 
portant of these was the well-known John 
Erskine of Dun, one of the disciples of that 
great M earns evangelist, George Wishart, who 
made his native district of Angus and Meams 
the chief scene of his missionary labours. The 
late Professor Mitchell, himself by the way an 
Angus man, notices the interesting fact in con- 
nection with Wishart's work as a religious 
teacher that, unlike Patrick Hamilton, who 
seemed to aim at a reform within the pale of 
his old church, Wishart strove to set up an 
entirely new organisation. He formed kirks, or 
congregations at least, in Dundee and Montrose, 
the latter probably consisting mainly of the 
lesser gentry in the adjacent districts of Angus 
and Meams, and the former chiefly of the sub- 
stantial burghers of the town of Dundee. One 
thing which made this task on the part of 
Wishart easier than it otherwise would have 



Vol. VIII., 2nd Series.] SCOTT/S// NOTES AND QUERIES 



53 



been, was the fact that he came at a slightly 
later period in the history of the Reformation, 
and that in the East of Scotland, as a result of 
the commercial intercourse it maintained with 
the Continent, he found a body of people 
already prepared to receive the new faith. 
Dundee was then a thriving seaport, and its 
busy traders, being brought into constant con- 
tact with Continental life and people, could not 
miss the contagion of Lutheran doctrines ; and 
when we know that some professors in St. 
Andrews, and one or two of the greatest abbots 
of Cambuskenneth were 'enlightened men, and 
sympathised with the humanistic and religious 
revival in Europe, it is easy to see how many 
around them must have fallen under the spell 
of the new doctrines, and how practicable there- 
fore it would be for a man of Wishart's energy 
to attempt to organise the Protestant forces into 
a new spiritual society, though such a policy 
was beyond the scope of a pioneer like young 
Hamilton. At all events, to whatever cause 
the fact is to be attributed, it is certain that 
Forfarshire was one of the earliest of the Scottish 
counties to be deeply and vitally affected by the 
reformed doctrines. By the time, indeed, that 
Knox returned to his native land in 1559, Angus 
had become practically the stronghold of the 
Scottish reformers, and it was doubtless for that 
reason that in 1559 Knox, immediately after 
landing in Scotland, proceeded north to Dundee, 
where, indeed, the zealous Protestants of Fife, 
Angus, and Mearns had already assembled, 
determined to make common cause with their 
preachers, and to go forward in peaceful form 
to Stirling, in order that the Queen and her 
council might be in no doubt as to the position 
which they meant to occupy alike to her and 
their spiritual teachers. 

W. B. R. W. 
To be continued. 



Woods of Bonnington (ist S., XII., 72, 
86; 2nd S., IV., 150). — Additional information 
may be gleaned from Alexander J. Warden's 
"Angus or Forfarshire, the Land and People : 
Descriptive and Historical," Vol. HI., at pages 
3«, 39, 160, 234, 246, 248, 431, 434, 435, 438. 
The Woods of Craig, Drums, Hilton, and 
Keithick are also mentioned in the same volume. 
This work bears the imprint " Dundee : Charles 
Alexander & Co., mdccclxxxii." Mr. Warden 
was a F.S.A. Scot., and author of "The Linen 
Trade," and "The Burgh Laws of Dundee,'' 
which were very favourably received by the 
press at the date of publication. 

Robert Murdoch. 



The Forbes Family.— The following notes 
on the Auchernach family may be useful to 
Forbes genealogists. Gordon Forbes Nathaniel 
Forbes of Auchernach married his first-cousin 
Isobel, daughter of John Stewart of Drummin, 
and had ten sons, including General Gordon 
Forbes. The general's military career was as 
follows : — 

Capt., 34th Regt., Apr. 12, 1764 (Army Rank, 
Oct. 7, 1762); Maj., gth, July 22, 1777 {London 
Gazette) ; Lt.-Col, 102nd, Sept. 25, 1781 {London 
Gazette); Col., local rank, £. Indies, June 13, 
1782 ; placed on h.p., 102nd, 1785-6 (Army Lists, 
1782-5); Lt.-Col., 74th, Oct. 12, 1787-9 {London 
Gazette, p. 485); Bt.-Col., Nov. 18, 1790; Col., 
105th, Sept. 30, 1794-5 {London Gazette, p. 986 ; 
Army Lists, 1794-5); Maj. -Gen., Oct. 4, 1794 
{London Gazette, p. loii); Col., 50th, Jan. 28, 
1797 {London Gazette, p. 75) ; Col, 29th, Aug. 8, 
1797 ; Lt.-Gen., Jan. i, 1800 {London Gazette, p. 
37); Gen., Dec. 30, 181 1 {London Gazette, p. 
2498; Army Lists, 1762-1828). His name ap- 
pears in 1828 in list of generals, but not holding 
appointment as colonel, 29th. His name does 
not appear in the list for 1829. He raised the 
74th Highlanders, who origfinally wore Forbes 
tartan when they paraded, 800 strong, in Madras, 
in full Highland garb. Gen. Gordon Forbes mar- 
ried, in 1770, Margaret Sullivan, and had, among 
other sons, Rev. Granville Hamilton, rector of 
Broughton, Northampton, who married, on July 
25, 1849, Georgina Augusta, youngest daughter of 
6th Marquis of Lothian, and had 

Henry Francis Gordon-Forbes (Jan. 2, 1850- 
1903). He entered the Rifle Brigade as ensign, 
July 30, 1870; Lt., Oct. 28, 1871; Capt, Julyi5, 
1880; Maj., Dec. 3, 1884; Lt.-Col., Dec. 6, 
1893 ; placed on h.p.; Maj., Reserve of Officers, 
Dec. 6, 1893. He served in the Afghan War in 
1878-9 with the Peshawur Valley Field Force. 
He was present at the attack and capture of Ali 
Musjeid, and took part in the Bazar Valley and 
Lergman Expeditions. He also served with the 
Burmese Expedition in 1886-7. He died at Villa 
Theodore, Cannes, Mar. 16, 1903, aged 52 {Times^ 
Mar. 19, 1903, p. 8, col. 3 ; Official Army Lists, 
1 880- 1 903). 

C. O. Skelton. 



The Murder of Two Sons of Gordon 
OF Ellon. — Two boys, the sons of Mr. Gordon 
of Ellon, were murdered on April 28, 171 7, by 
their tutor, Robert Irvine, in revenge for their 
having blabbed some moral indiscretion on his 
part which they had witnessed. This took place 
m a part of Edinburgh then unoccupied, and, 
being in sight of the Castlehill, was seen by 
persons walking there. The murderer was taken 
red-handed, and put on trial before the Barony 
Court of Broughton, when, being convicted by a 
jury, he was sentenced to be hanged next day 



54 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



at Greenside, having his hands 6rst struck off. 
The sentence was carried into execution on May 
I, in accordance with the usage of executing 
condemned criminals within three days of con- 
viction. The body was thrown into a quarry- 
hole near the place of the murder. The pro- 
ceedings are related in the Edinburgh Courant 
of the time. The Barony of Broughton was a 
lordship formed, in 1587, for Lord Justice Clerk 
Sir Lewis Bellenden, out of a part of the Abbacy 
of Holyrood annexed to the Crown at the Re- 
formation ia 1560. The Heritable Jurisdiction 
Abolition Act, 1747, took away from Barony 
Courts the power of life and death. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



Gilbert Blackhall, S.J. — In my note on 
the Scotch Church at Erfurt, I post-dated the 
death of this zealous Aberdeenshire priest in 
1676. He died in the Scotch College, Paris, on 
1st July, #671. Father Blackhall "shepherded" 
Patrick Gordon to the Jesuits' College at 
Brauensberg in 1652, when the future general 
and trusted friend of Peter the Great, Czar of 
Russia, was only a youth sixteen years of age. 
He is best known by the Spalding Club pub- 
lication of 1844 : "A BreifTc Narratioun of the 
Services done to Three Noble Ladyes," by 
Gilbert Blackhall, priest of the Scots Mission in 
France, the Low Countries, and Scotland in 
1631-49. The ladies were Isabel Hay, daughter 
of the Earl of Erroll ; Sophia, the Countess of 
Aboyne; and Madame de Gordon. They treated 
him shabbily. He wrote his account in 1667. 
He gives a most graphic description of his 
escapes and adventures, written with all the 
minuteness of detail characteristic of Defoe 
later on. Evidently he was a brave and resolute 
ecclesiastic, and it is to be hoped that the closing 
scene of his, career passed tranquilly in Paris, 
although remote from the waters of his beloved 
Dee. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



The Andersons of Mudhouse.— The fol- 
lowing items relating to this family occur in a 
lot of old accounts belonging to the family of 
Petrie-Hay, Keith, which the Rev. Stephen Ree 
has just examined : — 

1584, Aug. I.— Charter by which Blair Alves, with 
consent of his spouse, Marjorie Anderson, sells 
to John Maver, portioner of Urquhart, a kiln 
and rood of land on the south side of the city of 
Elgin: at Elgin, Aug. i, 1584. 
1612, Oct. 26,— -Charter by which the Town Coun- 
cil of Elgin sells to Grissel Urwell, relict of 
James Anderson, merchant burgess of Elgin, 
and now spouse of James Douglas, merchant 



burgess there, and to William Anderson, her 
son, two portions of land on the south side of 
the Grammar School of Elgin : at Elgin, Octo- 
ber 26, 1612. 

1616, Sept. 3. — Sasine to David Murray in lands 
of Drumnaquhirrich on charter by Robert Innes 
of Balvenie, at Balvenie, August 8, 1616: wit- 
nesses to sasine — James Leslie of Drumnaquhir- 
rich, John Lesly of Aberlour, Alex. Leslie in 
Bochrome. 

1649, March 13. — Disposition by which Wm. Mur- 
ray, portioner of Drumquhirrich, sells to John 
Leslie in Bochrome lands of Drumquhirrich : at 
Morthelik, March 13, 1649, before these wit- 
nesses — Adame Gordone of Abirlor, etc. 

1660, May 7. — Assignation by Agnes Anderson, 
lawful daughter of the deceased Mr. Robert 
Anderson, "doctor of phisik," to John Ander- 
son, her brother, of all her rights in her father's 
estate: written by John Lesly of Mudhouse, 
and signed at , May 7th, 1660. 

1698, July 14. — Intimation made "in the publtck 
marcatt of Bolvenie, holden at Lackie, in the 
audience of the wholl people," that, by virtue of 
a decree of the Sheriff of Banff, John Anderson 
of Mudhouse had arrested all the goods and 
gear of Wm. Stewart in Drumquhyrich, and 
also the following sums due to said Wm. Stew- 
art — viz., ;f 100 by John and Pat. Lesly of Park- 
l^cg ; ;f 40 by Alex. Lesly in Bochrome ; £"40 
by James Anderson of Wastertoune ; ;fio by 
Wm. Innes in Ardbroden ; and 4 boll 14 pecks 
victual due by Thomas Dunbar in Collergreen. 



Still Room (2nd S., VIII., 45).— Is Dr. 
Milne correct in his definition of a still room? 
I do not profess to be an authority on the subject, 
but my wife informs me that, in the Lothians at 
least, the term is used to describe the room in 
which the linen, table accessories, etc., are kept. 
I have consulted several dictionaries, the " En- 
cyclopaedia Britannica," and the new " Harms- 
worth Encyclopaedia," which is nothing if not up 
to date, but in none of these do I find the term. 
Dr. Murra/s "New English Dictionary" has 
not yet got so far as the letter 5. The only re- 
ference to a still room which I can at present 
call to memory is in the old English song "Simon 
the Cellarer," 

Dame Margery sits in her own still room. 
And a matron sage is she, 

which would seem to imply that her duties were 
more sedentary than active. Who is Dr. Milne's 
authority for the definition he gives ? It is a 
matter of some interest: especially, as seems pro- 
bable, the term may have different signification 
in different parts of the countr>'. 
I Summerbank, W. Saunders. 

Edinburgh. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



55 



ABERDEEN-AMERICAN GRADUATES. 



fUt S., /., 1S7; K, i, 18$, lU; VII., IJ^ 5J^ 76, 
141, 175; VIII., 127; IX., 15; X., 93, 170; 
XI., 173; XII., 66, 94, 127. m, 159; 2nd S., 
/., 7, 31, 47, 59, 64, 95, 127, 155, 169; II., 10, 
24, GO, 77, 125, 138, 171, 186; III., 154, 170; 
IV., 22,91; v., 92, 120.) 



134. Rev. Daniel Allan, native of Ross- 
shire, entered King's College 1824, and gradu- 
ated 1829 ("Roll of Alumni," pp. 138, 140). He 
was ordained and inducted to the charge of 
Stratford and Woodstock, Ontario, 21st Nov., 
1838, but in 1844 he seceded. (" Report of the 
Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," pp. 18, 125.) 

135. Rev. James Anderson, son of James 
Anderson, farmer, Cromarty, took classes at 
Marischal College 1825-9, but did not graduate 
("Rec. Mar. Coll.," II., 458). He was the first 
minister at Ormiston, in the Presbytery of 
Montreal, was inducted 14th July, 1835, and died 
there 1861, aged 64. ("Report of the Presb. 
Church of Canada, 1866," p. 60.) 

136. Rev. Daniel Clark, native of Inver- 
ness-shire, graduated at Kinj^'s College 1522 
(" Grad. King's Coll.," p. 278 ; " Roll of Alumni," 
pp. 127, 129). He was licensed by the Presby- 
tery of Inverness, was missionary for a year at 
Martintown, in the Presbytery of Glengarry, 
Canada, and was inducted at Indian Lands, in 
the same Presbytery, Aug. 28, 1839. He seceded 
in 1844. ("Report of the Presb. Church of 
Canada, 1866," pp. 76, 81.) 

137. Rev. Henry Gordon was ordained 
in Scotland in 1833, ^^^ became minister of 
Newmarket and King, Ontario, in 1834. He 
was translated to Gananoque in 1837, and 
seceded in 1844. ("Report of the Presb. Church 
of Canada, 1866," pp. 44, 45, 167.) He was 
eldest son of Thomas Gordon, W.S., Edinburgh, 
and himself became Writer to the Signet in 
1825. He died unmarried 12th December, 1880. 
(J. M. Bulloch : "The House of Gordon," App. 
III., p. 221.) 

138. Rev. John Barclay, born in the 
Manse of Kettle, Fifeshire, was son of Rev. 
Peter Barclay, D.D., minister there, who was 
son of James Barclay and Elspeth Mitchell, of 
Towie Mills, Auchterless (Wimberley : " The 
Barclays of Barclay," p. 65). He was the first 
pastor of St. Andrew's Church, Kingston, 
Ontario. Educated at Edinburgh, he came to 



Kingston 1821, and died 26th Sept., 1826, aged 
29. (" Report of the Presb. Church of Canada, 
1866," pp. 49, 165.) 

139. Rev. William Masson, son of the 
parish minister of Botriphnie, studied at Maris- 
chal College 1847-50 ("Rec. Mar. Coll.," II., 
P- 539)> was licensed by the Presbytery of Elgin, 
and went to Canada in 1856. For two years he 
served as missionary in the Presbytery of 
Hamilton, and then was two years in charge of 
St. John's Church, in Hamilton. In i860 he 
became minister at Russelltown Flats, Montreal. 
(" Report of the Presb. Church of Canada," pp. 
55, 168.) 

140. Rev. Alexander McKay, Pictou, 
Nova Scotia, graduated at King's College in 
1848. He was minister at Lochiel, in the 
Presbytery of Glengarry, Ont, 1866. ("Report 
of the Presb. Church of Canada," pp. 81, 169.) 

141. Rev. Alexander McKid, native of ^ 
Thurso, received his M.A. degree at King's 
College 1842 ("Roll of Alumni," pp. 136-8; 

" Grad. King's Coll.," p. 295) ; became minister 
at By town, now Ottawa, for two years. In 1845 
he became minister at Hamilton, and was trans- 
lated from that to Goderich in 1848, where, in 
1866, he retired from the ministry, f" Report 
of the Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," pp. 13, 
19, 169.) 

142. Rev. George Law, native of Fetter- 
esso, was at King's College 1850-5, but does not 
appear to have taken his degree (" Roll of 
Alumni," pp. 176-7). He was missionary in 
Nova Scotia, and in 1865 was inducted at 
Chinguaconsy as minister in the end of 1865. 
("Report of the Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," 
pp. 41, 168.) 

143. Rev. James Mair, son of James Mair, 
New Deer ; graduated at Marischal College in 
1850; was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow 
in 1856 ; was settler at Barney's River in Nova 
Scotia in 1857 ; and was inducted at Martin- 
town, Ontario, in i860. ("Report of the Presb. 
Church of Canada, 1866," p. 76, 168.) 

144. Rev. Alexander Mann, native of 
Aberdeen, graduated at King's College 18 19; 
was ordained by the Presbytery of Aberdeen in 
1840 ; and in 1841 was inducted into the 
ministerial charge of five townships in Ontario, 
but finding the work too heavy after ten years' 
trial, he finally restricted his labours to Paken- 
ham in the Presbytery of Renfrew. (" Report 
of the Presb. Church of Canada," pp. 91, 168.) 



56 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



145. Rev. John Herald, son of John 
Herald in Kirriemuir, was one session at Maris- 
chal College 1845-6, and came back for the 
M.A. degree in 1853. ("Rec. Mar. Coll.," II., 
53o» 549-) He was sent to Canada by the 
Colonial Committee in 1857, and became 
minister of Dundas, Ont, where he was about 
eighteen years. He died at Meieine Hat, in the 
North -West Territory. (" Report of the Presb. 
Church of Canada," pp. 9, 167.) 

146. Rev. William Maxwell Inglis, a 
native of Edinburgh, was licensed by the 
Presbytery of Fordyce in 1861 ; was assistant 
at New Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, and 
when there was chosen assistant minister of 
St. Andrews Church, Montreal ; and then was 
inducted as successor to Dr. Machar at Kings- 
ton, Ont., in 1863. ("Report of the Presb. 
Church of Canada,'' pp. 49, 168.) 

147. Rev. John McKenzie graduated at 
King's College in 1813 ("Grad. King's Coll.," 
p. 274 ; " Roll of Alumni," p. 119); succeeded 
Mr. Bethune as minister at Williamstoun, On- 
tario, in 1 81 8; and was chosen Moderator of 
the first Presbyterian Synod in Canada. He 
was bom at Fort Augustus, and in 1855, aged 
65, he died at Williamstoun, his only charge. 
("Report of the Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," 
pp. 77i 169.) 

148. Rev. Peter McNaughton, said to 
have been educated in Aberdeen, but his name 
is not on the University lists, came to Canada 
under the auspices of the Glasgow Colonial 
Society, and was inducted to the charge of 
Vaughan, Ontario, in 1833, but returned to 
Scotland in 1844, and was minister at Dores. 
In 1847 he was re-translated to Vaughan, and 
then went to Pickering, but in 1855 he demitted 
the charge, and gave up all connection with that 
religious body. (" Report of the Presb. Church 
of Canada, 1866,'' pp. yj^ 46, 170.) 

149. Rev. Thomas McPherson graduated 
at King's College 1827 ("Grad. King's Coll.," 
p. 483; "Roll of Alumni," p. 138); went to 
Canada 1836, and was first settled at Melbourne, 
Qu. ; went to Beechridge, Qu., and in 1843 was 
translated to Lancaster, Ont. (" Report of the 
Presb. Church of Canada," pp. 78, 170.) 

150. Rev. Robert Peden, said to have 
been educated at Aberdeen, but not as yet found 
upon the University rolls, came from the Seces- 
sion body in 1844, and that year was ordained 
for Amherstburgh, Ontario, but the same year 



le seceded. (" Report of the Presb. Church of 
'Canada, 1866,'' p. 170.) 

151. Rev. John R annie, of Walls, Shetland, 
graduated at King's College 1845 ("Grad. King's 
Coll.," p. 297 ; "Roll of Alumni," p. 163) ; was 
Murray Lecturer 1854-5 ; minister of New 
Amsterdam 1857 ("Grad.," p. 81), and appointed 
to Chatham, Ontario, 1859. ("Report of the 
Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," pp. 17, 170.) 

152. Rev. Alexander Ross, said to have 
been educated at Aberdeen, came from Aid- 
borough, Ontario, to Woolwich in 1823, where 
he was the first minister in charge. In 1846 he 
removed to Gwillimburg, and died at Brantford 
1857, aged 63. He was much esteemed as an 
able and learned man. (" Report of the Presb. 
Church of Canada, 1866," pp. 24, 44, 171.) He 
probably was the person of that name from 
Ross-shire who took the form classes at King's 
College 1818-22, but not the degree. ("Roll of 
Alumni," p. 129.) 

153. Rev. Walter R. Ross took the form 
sessions at King's College 1848-52, but ap- 
parently not his degree. (" Roll of Alumni," 
p. 173.) He was inducted to Pickering, Ontario, 
in 1 861, and was there in 1866. ("Report of 
the Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," pp. 37, 171.) 

154. Rev. James Ross, archdeacon. New 
South Wales, a native of Peterhead, graduated 
at King's College 1857, and had D.D. 1893. He 
died at Armidale, N.S.W., in 1902. ("Roll of 
Alumni," p. 181 ; Scott, Guard. ^ September 26, 
1902, p. 600.) 

155. Rev. George Smellie, said to have 
been educated at Aberdeen, was inducted at 
Fergus, Ontario, in 1843, and in the following 
year seceded with most of his congregation, and 
continued at Fergus as minister of the C.P. 
Church. ("Report of the Presb. Church of 
Canada, 1866," pp. 25, 171.) 

156. Rev. John Smith, from Cromarty, was 
second minister at Becknith, Ontario. He was 
inducted in 1833, and he died i8th April, 1851. 
("Report of the Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," 
pp. 90, T71.) 

157. Rev. Alexander Spark, D.D., bom 
at Marykirk 1762, took his degree at King's 
College 1776, and went to Canada in 1788 as 
tutor in Col. Caldwell's family at Belmont, near 
Quebec. He was afterwards assistant in an 
academy in Quebec. He returned to Scotland, 



r 



Vol. VIII. and Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



57 



and was licensed and ordained by the Presby- 
tery of Ellon, returning at once to Quebec. In 
1784 he was called to the charge of St Andrews 
Presbyterian Church there, where he died in 
1819. From King's College, Aberdeen, he 
received the D.D. degree 1804. ("Report of 
the Presb. Church of Canada, 1866,'' pp. loi, 
171 ; "Grad. King's Coll.," PP- io5, 252 ; "Roll 
of Alumni,'' p. 90.) 

158. Rev. Alexander Spence, D.D., was 
inducted to the charge of St. Andrew's Church, 
Ottawa, 1 848, but he had been ordained by the 
Presbytery of Aberdour 1841 to be the first 
Presbyterian minister of St. Vincent, in the 
West Indies, where he remained six and a half 
years. The University of Queen's College, 
Kingston, conferred on him the degree of D.D. 
1 864. (" Report of the Presb. Church of Canada, 
1866," pp. 97, 171.) He is probably the Alex- 
ander Spence of Aberdeen who was a semi in 
the class of 1820-4. ("Roll of Alumni," p. 132.) 

159. Rev. George Thomson or Thomp- 
son was inducted into the double charge of 
McNab and Horton in Ontario 185 1, and was 
there 1866. ("Report of the Presb. Church of 
Canada, 1866," pp. 92, 172.) He belonged to 
Aberdeen, and graduated at King's College 
1822. ("Grad. King's Coll.," p. 279; "Roll of 
Alumni," p. 129.) 

160. Rev. Peter Colin Campbell, D.D., 
came from Scotland to Canada as a missionary 
in 1836, and was settled at Brockville, Ontario, 
where he remained until 1842, when he was 
appointed Professor of Classical Literature in 
Queen's College, Kingston. In 1845 he returned 
to Scotland, and was presented to the parish of 
Caputh. From that he went to King's College 
as Professor of Greek, and in 1855 became 
Principal of the University. ("Report of the 
Presb. Church of Canada, 1866," pp. 84, 166 ; 
5. N &* Q., 2nd S., V., p. 165.) 

161. Alfred Tingle, B.Sc., a native of 
Sheffield and there educated, was teacher at 
Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, and in 
1896 became Bachelor of Science in Chemistry 
at the University of Aberdeen. He holds the 
same degree at London University, and the 
Ph.D. degree at the University of Pennsylvania 
1899. He has been assistant in Chemistry at 
the University of Wisconsin, Columbia Univer- 
sity, N.Y., and the University of Toronto, Ont. 
He was Professor of Chemistry at the Imperial 
Provincial College at Chinanfu, Shantung, 
China, up to 1905, and is still attached to tlie 



faculty of the University as consulting chemist 
and mineralogist (Information from Mr. J. 
Bishop Tingle, Johns-Hopkins University, 
Baltimore, Ind.) 

James Gammack, LL.D. 



Brodie and Hoare Families.— The following 
is supplementary to what appeared in S, N &* Q., 
1st S., XII., 61. The Aberdeen Journal of $th 
September last reports that "a marriage has been 
arranged between Joseph Brodie Hoare, eldest 
son of Mr. E. Brodie Hoare, of Tenchleys, 
Limpsfield, Surrey, and Gwendolen Margaret, 
third daughter of Mr. James Cosmo Melvill, of 
Meole Brace Hall, Shrewsbury." The Hoares 
trace descent from Alexander Brodie, who was 
at Glassaugh, in Banffshire, in the beginning of 
the seventeenth century, but migrated to London. 
Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, sergeant-surgeon 
to William IV. and Queen Victoria, was Alex- 
ander Brodie's grandson, and his daughter mar- 
ried Rev. Edward Hoare, Tunbridge Welle, 
who was the father of Mr. E. Brodie Hoare of 
Tenchleys. 

Robert Murdoch. 



Two Aberfoyle Epitaphs.— In his notes to 
" Rob Roy," Sir Walter Scott calls attention to 
the folk-lore researches of two of the ministers 
of Aberfoyle parish, and gives the interesting 
legend attached to the death of the earlier of 
the two. Their tombstones stand in the church- 
yard, and are inscribed as follows : — 

Sacred to the Memory | of the | Revd. Patk. 
Graham, D.D., | minister of Aberfoyle, | who de- 
parted this life on the 4th | Septr., 1835, in the 
80th year of | his age and 48th of his ministry. | 

To the Literary World he | was known as an 
accomplished | Scholar — to the Flock over whom 
I he presided, as a faithful Minister | of the Gos- 
pel—to the Society in | which he moved, as an 
humble and | sincere Christian — to his Family | as 
an affectionate Husband, | Parent, and Instructor. 

The inscription on the stone of Dr. Graham's 
predecessor is shorter and more succinct : — 

Hie sepultus | ille Evangelii | Promulgator | ac- 
curatus | et J linguae Hiberniae | Lumen | M. 
Robertus Kirk | Aberioile Pastor | Obiit 14 Maii 
1692 I i^tat 48. 

Beneath the lettering there is a shield on which 
are cut out a Scottish thistle, a sword, and a 
crozier, the latter two being crossed. It will be 
noted that Kirk's dates do not correspond with 
those given by Sir Walter. 

Corson Cone. 



5S 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



THE CANT FAMILY. 
(Continued from 2nd S., VIII., p. 25.) 



The Charter, No. 1,428, given at Edinburgh, 
6th November, 1534, by which the king granted 
to John Melville of Raith the annual rents of 
certain lands at Hiltoun of Rossyth in the 
county of Fife, although introducing the Cants, 
as it were, only by a side issue, is interesting, 
throwing as it does a little light upon the state 
of the " Kingdom," at that period. " Robertus 
Orrok et ejus complices pro invasione Alexandri 
O. de Sillebawbe ejusque fratrum et amicorum, 
pro corum interfectione ex veteri inimicitia," etc. 
Walt. Cant is mentioned in a note as a member 
of assize. 

In a confirmatory charter, dated at Stirling, 
4th May, 1536, we again make the acquaintance 
of Henricus Cant of " Ovir-Libertoun," who 
seems to have been a person of some note in 
his day, and his consang^uineous witness, Matheo 
Cant. The original charter, dated Edinburgh, 
26th February, 1520, is inthefoUo^^ingterms : — 

** ... cum consensu Margarete Seytoun 
sponse sue, domine conjuncte infeodationis 
terrarum subscript., — pro summa pecunie sibi 
persoluta,vendidit(quondam) Henrico Creich- 
TOUN de Ricardtoun, heredibus ejus et as- 
signatis — superioritatem mansionis, turris et 
fortidicii de Ovir-Libertoun, cum domibus, ortis, 
clausura, 10 marcatas 5 sol. 2 den. terrarum de 
Ovir-Libertoun, vulgariter le Serjandis — landis 
nuncupat. (de quibus 6 mercatas 5 sol. 2 den. 
Walt. Chepman burgen. de Edinburgh de 
dictis Hen. Cant et Marg. in pignore habuit, 
tunc vigore litere reversionis a dicto Walt, 
redemptas ; et 4 mercat. jacen. in //> Bank per 
diet. Hen. Cant et ejus servitores occupate sunt), 
in villa et territorio de Ovir-Libertoun, vie. 
Edinburgh." 

Then follows the extraordinary condition : 
" Reddknd. Annuatim regi unam rosam 
rubeam nomine albe firme." This charter 
seems to imply that Henry of Over Liberton 
had got into financial difficulties. 

Again we come to the Carmichaels of Carpow, 
and D. Henrico Cant is a never-failing witness 
to the charters pertaining to this family. As 
none of them are of outstanding interest, being 
simply confirmatory charters of grants of land 
made by and to them, a passing reference will 
suffice. The charter dated Edinburgh, 12th 
March 1 536-7, confirms one dated " Dunde 
14 Nov. 1536." Another "Apud Edinburgh 
2 Jul. 1 541," confirms one "Apud Dunde 14 
Nov. 1 536," and one " Apud burgum de 
Dunde 13 Mar. 1530.'* And still a third, given 



at Dundee i6th Dec, 1541, confirms another 
dated at this port so recently as 29 April of the 
same year. 

No. 1,736, bearing the date 26th Dec, 1537, 
from ** Linlithqw," takes us again to Fife, this 
time, however, to the east. It introduces so many 
names still characteristic of the ancient kingdom 
that I make no apology for transcribing it in 
extenso: — " Rex confirmavit cartam factam per 
Mariotam Symsoun filiam et unam heredum 
quondam Willelmi Symsoun de Lathrisk (cum 
consensu Johannis Cowtis ejus sponsi), et per 
Johannem Johnstoun burgensem de Edinburgh, 
alterum heredum dicti. Wil, — [qua pro summa 
pecunie persoluta, vendiderunt David Wemys 
de eodem, heredibus ejus et assignatis, — duas 
suas sextas partes terrarum de Lathrisk, vie. 
Fyfe : — Ten END. de rege :— Reservato libero 
tenemento Eliz. Cant relicte dicti Wil. : — Test. 
D. Tho. Mailvile rectore de Hwtoun, M. Alex. 
Kynnynmont, M. Jacobo Strang, D. Rob, 
Simsoun Capellano, Tho Kynnynmont, Joh. 
Buchquhannane et Alex. Young notariis pub- 
licis :— Apud Edinburgh 13 Dec 1537]: Test," 
etc. 

We now meet for the first time in these 
charters, George Cant, baillie in Edinburgh, 
who seems, like Henry of ** Ovir-Libertoun," to 
have been a man of some consequence. We 
learn from the Edinburgh Burgh Records that 
there was, towards the end of the fifteenth 
century, in the capital, a Henry Cant, who was 
the son of a George Cant. It is not improbable 
that this Henry, who was seemingly also a man 
of some note, was the father of George the 
baillie, as, according to the Scottish system ol 
naming children, the eldest son takes the pater- 
nal grandfather's name, and names in families 
are thus generally reproduced once at least 
in every second generation. It may here be 
remarked in passing, that Henry seems to have 
been a popular family name with all the branches 
of the Cant family. It is always well to keep 
such facts in mind when tracing the various 
branches of a family to their common pro- 
genitor. The entry in the Burgh Records reads : 
"Henricus Cant filius et heres apparend Georgij 
Cant effectus est burgensis et finiuit species et 
vinum." Considering his position in the Town 
Council, therefore, it is no matter for surprise to 
find George witnessing one long charter, by 
which Robert Graham, who, we learn, had been 
the Burgh treasurer, and Margarete Auldjoy, his 
spouse, get certain town lands in fee ; and 
another by which James Makgill, burgess in 
Edinburgh, and Helen Wardlaw, his spouse, 
get a similar grant. These grants were made 
by the provost and magistrates of the city to 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



59 



the two recipients as a single transaction, one 
piece of land, viz., "tuelf pairts of the commoun 
mere " being granted to them " equalie be equal 
diuisioun," Neither the charters nor the records 
are altogether clear upon the subject, and I 
cannot get over the feeling that it was rather a 
shady transaction. 

No. 2^166, a St. Andrews charter, dated "7 
Jan. 1540," confirming one dated at Huntlie 
only three days earlier — surely smart work for 
these days when the motor car, railway train, 
artd even the post chaise were not — is interesting. 
Patrick Gray concedes to Patrick, the son of 
Andrew his brother, in life rent, three-fourths of 
the lands of Bawgillo, with their mills and 
granaries, in repayment of the great service 
which the said Patrick had rendered his uncle. 
The lands, etc., were occupied, among others, 
by one David Kante — note the unusual spelling 
of the name ! Bawgillo is mentioned as being 
in "vie. Forfare." Can anyone identify the 
locality ? 

The next two deeds in the volume to which 
our attention is drawn are mentioned above, 
and reintroduce us to our old friend D. Hen. 
Cant, in his capacity of witness to the Car- 
mi chaels of Carpow. They are the two dated 
"Edinburgh, 2 Jul. 1541," and "Dunde 16 Dec. 
1 541," respectively. 

Another Henry, who has also some claims 
upon our friendship, reappears in a charter 
dated "Apud S. Andream, 18 Mar. 1541-42," 
dealing with the affairs of the Mariote Broun 
mentioned in the first deed to which I referred. 

The last charter in the volume relating to the 
Cants, dated Edinburgh, 19th October, 1542, 
confirms "cartam Jacobi abbatis monasterii 
B.v.M. de Newbottill, et conventus ejusdem, — 
[qua, — cum terre subscripte ad grana et segetes 
essent admodum steriles, et quoad armeuta 
propter frequentes incursiones latronum qui 
fuerunt a limitibus ad multos annos elapsos 
quasi vaste et inutiles extarent, — pro servitio 
sibi inipenso,ad feodifirmam dimiserunt familiari 
servitori et amico suo Alexandro Adamsoun 
burgensi de Edinburgh et JONETE Cant ejus 
spouse, — terras de Westir Denyshousis, in 
dominio de Newbottill, prope terras suas de 
Romanno— grange, vie. Peblis (infra limiles 
specificatas)," etc., etc. This charter is doubly 
interesting to me, for, besides the Cant reference, 
it is one of the first, if not the very first, made 
by the abbot in question. This abbot, who was 
the last of Newbattle, was a member of the 
Haswell family, materials for whose history I 
am at present collecting. Whether of the 
Border stock or of another branch which was 
settled in East Lothian, I am not yet sure, but 



he was a man of outstanding force of character, 
who left his mark at the most critical period in 
the history of his church, not only upon the 
abbey over which he held sway, but also to 
some extent upon the history of our land. This 
is somewhat irrelevant to a survey of the Cant 
family, but I trust that such an irrevelancy may 
be overlooked ; and should any reader be able 
to furnish any particulars regarding the Haswell 
family in general, or this abbot in particular, I 
shall be extremely grateful for the information. 



I Summerbank, 
Edinburgh. 



W. Saunders. 



To be continued. 



Brodie, Michie, and Gauld Families.— 
The following notes on the above may interest 
your subscriber who is enquiring about the 
Michies and connections (2nd S., VI., 45, 62): — 
Helen Michie, born 19th April, 1777 (interred 
in Strathdon Churchyard), married on loth May, 
1798, William Gauld, who was born 15th May, 
1758 — he is buried in Glenbuchat Churchyard. 
Their eldest son, Jonathan Gauld, was born at 
Newton, Glenbuchat, 27th June, 1799 ; died at 
Crofts, Glenbuchat, i6th January, 1876, and was 
interred in Glenbuchat Churchyard. This Jona- 
than Gauld married, on the 19th February, 

1858, Mary Ann Brodie, youngest daughter of 
William Brodie, and his wife, Mary Reid ; was 
born at Backies, Glenbuchat, nth December, 
1828 ; died at Balnacraig, Glenbuchat, 4th 
March, 1905. Their family consisted of William 
Gauld, born at Crofts, Glenbuchat, 31st January, 

1859, died dth May, 1863, interred at Glen- 
buchat ; Mary Ann Gauld, born at Crofts, Glen- 
buchat, 31st May, 1863, died at Cults, 29th June, 
1878, interred at Glenbuchat ; and Jonathan 
Gauld, born at Crofts, Glenbuchat, 8th January, 
1 86 1, who married, at Edinburgh on i6th June, 
1898, Elizabeth Stewart, second daughter of 
Andrew Bell Stewart and Annie Brooks Laurie. 
This Elizabeth Stewart was born at Berbice, 
Demerara, 22nd May, 1878, died at 2 Meadow- 
bank Avenue, Edinburgh, 17th May, 1906. Jona- 
than Gauld and Elizabeth Stewart had the fol- 
lowing issue, all born in Edinburgh : Annie 
Laurie, bom 31st March, 1899; Marion, bom i iih 
September, 1900; and Dorothy Stewart Brodie, 
born 30th March, 1903. By the death of Mary 
Ann Brodie or Gauld, as stated above, the last 
of that surname in Glenbuchat as a residenter 
took place, a fact deeply regretted by the inhabi- 
tants of the district. 

Robert Murdoch. 



6o 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



SOME OF DR. JOHN LEYDEN'S 
INEDITED POEMS. 



In response to your correspondent " Alba" in 
your issue of July, I have much pleasure in 
sending for publication in Scottish Notes and 
Queries Dr. John Leyden's " Song of Wallace,'* 
which, as I pointed out in my article on Hogg's 
"The Spy," has never appeared in any of the 
editions of his poetical works : 

Song of Wallace. 
By Dr. John Leyden. 

Farewell, each dun heath and each green Scottish 

plain, 
Which Wallace shall never revisit again, 
Where the flower of my heroes lie mouldering 

below — 
But their graves have been steeped with the blood 

of their foe. 

My warriors, undaunted, disdaining to yield, 
We've stemm'd the red torrent that crimsoned the 

field ; 
Where the proud English columns show glittering 

afar, 
We have reap'd with our swords the red harvest 

of war. 

We have fought till our hands to our falchions 
were glued ; 

We have fought against fortune with hearts un- 
subdued ; 

We have piled up the slain, till we fainted with 
toil; 

And our's was the victory, our country's the spoil. 

On the field, on the scaffold, each death we defy, 
For 'tis sweet for our friends, for our country to 

die ; 
For these we first arm'd in the green vales of Kyle, 
And for these, amid tortures, we sternly will smile. 

Not fame nor vain glory allur'd us to arms, 
That array foulest murder in fair Virtue's charms ; 
But the gales brought the shrieks of our maids to 

our ear. 
And curs'd were the cowards refusing to hear. 

Our maids they were fair, and our love it was 

true, 
With fondest affection they bade us adieu ; 
Our swords they were wet with the warm trickling 

tear — 
We have melted with pity, but never with fear. 

Farewell, my lov'd friends, who unconquer'd 

remain, 
We, true sons of freedom, shall yet meet again ; 
The fi»lds of the blest are ne'er purpl'd with gore ; 
My country, farewell, I shall see thee no more. 

There is unfortunately no exhaustive life of that 
remarkable man, still less is there a good and 
well edited edition of his poems. The best that 



has yet appeared is his " Poetical Remains," 
published in 1819, with a sketch of his life by a 
cousin of the poet's — the Rev. James Morton, 
author of " Monastic Annals of Teviotdale "— 
but there are quite a number of Leyden's pieces 
that Richard Heber, who edited the poems, 
either omitted or had overlooked, and which 
have remained unnoticed by subsequent editors. 
The five sonnets in " The Edinburgh Annual 
Register" for 18 10, curiously enough, had 
escaped my notice, as they are not recorded in 
my Bibliography of the Life and Writings of Dr. 
John Leyden, appended to his " Journal of a 
Tour in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland 
in 1800," published by Messrs. Wm. Blackwood 
and Sons in 1903. I am, therefore, under a 
debt of gratitude to "Alba" for drawing my 
attention to the fact, and I lost no time in pro- 
curing the volume^ There I read for the first 
time the three beautiful sonnets, entitled 
" Memory," "To the Lark," and "To a Mossy 
Gravestone in Cavers Churchyard." To my 
astonishment, however, on reading the sonnets 
" Sabbath Morning " and " On Parting with 
a Friend," I found several variations in the 
former, and the latter almost unrecognisable when 
compared with the versions as published in his 
poems. I give both versions, so that your 
correspondent and your readers generally may 
note the different readings : 

On the Sabbath Morning. 

With silent awe I hail the sacred morn, 

That slowly waxes while all the fields are still ! 
A soothing calm on every breeze is borne ; 

A grraver murmur gurgles from the rill ; 

And echo answers softer from the hill ; 
And softer sings the linnet from the thorn ; 

The sky-lark warbles in a tone less shrill. 
Hail, light serene ! hail, sacred Sabbath-morn ! 
The rooks float silent by in airy drove ; 

The sun a placid, yellow lustre throws ; 
The gales, that lately sighed along the grove, 

Have hush'd their downy wings in dead repose ; 
The hovering rack of clouds forget to move : 

So smird the day when the first morn arose ! 

— From Morton's ** Poetic Remains of the late 
Dr. John Leyden," London, 1819. 

Sabbath Morning. 

Hail to the placid, venerable morn, 

That slowly waxes while all the fields are still ! 
A pensive calm on every breeze is borne, 

A graver murmur gurgles from the rill. 

And echo answers softer from the hill ; 
While softer sings the linnet from the thorn ; 

The sky-lark warbles in a tone less shrill. 
Hail, light serene ! hail, holy Sabbath-morn ! 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



6i 



The gales that lately sigh'd along the grove 
Have hush'd their downy wings in dead repose ; 

The rooks float silent by in airy drove ; 

The sun a mild but solemn lustre throws ; 

The clouds that hoverM slow forget to move : 

Thus smilM the day when the first morn arose 1 

—From •* The Edinburgh Annual Register " for 
1810. 

On Parting with a Friend on a Journey. 
Written in 1797. 

As o^er the downs expanding silver gray, 
You pass, dear friend, your altered form I view 
Diminished to a shadow dim and blue, 

As oft I turn to gaze with fond delay. 

Alas, that youthful friendships thus decay ! 
While fame or fortune's dizzy heights we seek, 
Or through the mazy windings of the vale 

Of busy life pursue our separate way, 

Too soon by nature's rigid laws we part. 
Too soon the moments of affection fly, 
Nor h'om the grave shall one responsive sigh 

Breathe soft to soothe the sad survivor's heart 1 
Ah ! that when life's brief course so soon is o'er, 
We e'er should friendship's broken tie deplore. 

— From Morton's " Poetical Remains of the 
late Dr. John Leyden," London, 1819. 

, On Parting with a Friend. 

While far, dear friend, your parting steps recede, 
I frequent turn to gaze with fond delay ; 
How faint your lineaments and form decay, 

Diminished to a dim, unbodied shade. 

Alas, that thus our early friendships fade 1 
While through the busy vale of life we stray, 
And hold the separate tenor of our way, 

Thus imperceptibly our minds secede. 

Yet sure too soon, thou brother of my heart. 
So lately found, but therefore loved the more. 
Too soon the moments of affection fly ! 

Too soon by nature's rig^d laws we part ; 
Surviving friends may o'er our tomb deplore. 
But never hear a soft responsive sigh. 

—From •• The Edinburgh Annual Register " 

for 1810. 



I am fortunately in a position to place beyond 
doubt the correct version of the sonnet " On 
the Sabbath Morning," as I possess the original 
manuscript of this delightful poem, which the 
Rev. Sydney Smith is said to have pronounced 
the most beautiful sonnet in our language. In 
the manuscript copy it is exactly as in the 
various collections of Leyden's Poetical Works. 
In addition to this MS. I have another, viz , a 
sonnet entitled ^^ Love,'* written in 1800, and this 
also is the same as in the collected editions of ! 
his poems. How, then, are we to account for the 
different readings of these two sonnets ? I can 
only explain it in one way. There may have 



been rough drafts, afterwards revised by Leyden, 
and, along with the other three sonnets, sent by 
him to Scott, who, years afterwards, published 
them in "The Edinburgh Annual Register" for 
1 8 10, as he seems to have done the "Song of 
Wallace" in Hogg's "The Spy" in 1811. 

The little volume your correspondent refers to 
was published in Edinburgh m 18 13, and is 
entitled " A Memorial of Anne Margaret 
Anderson," the wife of David Irving, LL.D.,and 
the poem it contains by Leyden is an " Elegy 
on the Death of a favourite Linnet," addressed 
to Miss Anderson. It was first published in the 
" Edinburgh Magazine" for April, 1799, ^ut has 
never been included in any collected edition of 
his poems. 

Regarding "Alba's" last query : the Aurelia 
of Leyden's muse was Margaret Brown, authoress 
of a volume of poems, published in 18 19, en- 
titled " Lays of Affection." She was a sister of 
Dr. Thomas Brown, Professor of Moral Philo- 
sophy in the University of Edinburgh. 

James Sinton. 

Hassendean, 
Eastfield, Joppa. 



FOLK-LoRE OF Baptism.— If a brother and 
sister are baptised with water out of the same 
bowl, it is said the sister will have a beard. 
This item of folk-lore is current in Strathdon and 
Glenbuchat Hence, mothers are warned before- 
hand not to use the same bowl and water in 
baptism when a girl is to be baptised ! 

Robert Murdoch. 



Place-Names, Dialects, and Folk-lore 
OF THE North of Scotland.— The Viking 
Club (Society for Northern Research) is about 
to issue a Quarterly dealing with the antiquities 
and records of Orkney, Shetland, and the North 
of Scotland, which district for many centuries 
formed the Norse earldom of Orkney. One 
division of the work will be devoted to the 
elucidation of the place-names, dialects, and 
folk-lore. .At present the place-names of Orkney 
are being collected by a local committee under 
the direction of Mr. J. W. Cursiter, F.S.A. Scot, 
of Kirkwall, with the cordial approval of the 
Ordnance Department, who have placed their 
maps at the disposal of the society. The work 
of collecting place-names, making researches 
into the dialects and folk-lore, printing and edit- 
ing, will entail considerable expense in advance 
of publication, and greatly in excess of the 
society's income from annual subscriptions. 
The society wishes to have a sum of at least 
;^2,ooo invested for this purpose. 



' 



62 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 190b 



S. Mary's Chapel, Aberdeen.— Amongst 
the papers of local interest in Vol. I., Part III., 
of " The Transactions of the Scottish Ecclesio- 
logical Society," there is one by A. M. Munro, 
City Chamberlain, on ** Monumental Inscrip- 
tions and Carved Woodwork in S. Mary's Chapel, 
Aberdeen," illustrated by several fine photo- 
graphs of heraldic panels and adoration of the 
Magi. 

Robert Murdoch. 



dluertcB. 



777. Origin of Names " Beinn Iutharn 
Mhor'* and "Beag.** — These hills, which reach a 
height of 3,424 and 3,011 feet respectively, are the 
highest points of a group of hills at the head of 
Glen Ey on Deeside. They form the boundary 
between the counties of Aberdeen and Perth, and 
are on the watershed of the Dee and Tilt, the latter 
river being among the principal tributaries of the 
Tay. We may pass over all discussion of words 
** Beinn," also of ** Mhor" and " Beag," as they are 
well known to mean "big" and "little" respectively, 
confining our attention to "Iutharn." Beinn Iutharn 
being the scene of the last (and most enjoyable) 
excursion of the Cairngorm Club, I being present, 
the name of the hill is of interest to me. In the 
" Scottish Mountaineering Club Guide Book," which 
is incorporated with the "Journal" published by the 
Scottish Mountaineering Club, I find that the name 
is said to mean the rather unspeakable one of 
*'Hell," the whole name meaning "The Big and 
Little Mountain of Hell." Indeed, this was the 
meaning given of the hill by a prominent member of 
the Cairngorm Club who went up it along with the 
rest of the party on the occasion referred to. 
Certainly, on consulting McAlpine's Gaelic Diction- 
ary, I find that, in the English-Gaelic part, " Hell" 
is translated as " Iutharn," but I am also surprised 
to find that " Iutharn " is not given at all in the 
Gaelic- English part. This, however, is a mere 
detail. The object of this auery is to ask: Why 
have these hills been cursed with such a terrific 
name? There is most assuredly no precipice or 
abyss of any kind on Beinn Utharn Mhor, and, so 
far as I could see, the same remark might apply to 
Beinn Utharn Beag : these hills being the scene of 
some bloody and murderous deed was suggested by 
some of the members at the above-mentioned trip. 
Perhaps some of the correspondents to S. N. 6* Q. 
will enlighten us on the matter. 



Craigiebucklcr, 
By Aberdeen. 



Sydney C. Couper. 



7*pB. John Heiton.— This gentleman contributed 
to tne Edinburgh Ladies* yournal in 1859 a series 
of articles on the different classes of people living in 



Auld Reekie, interspersed with racy and curious 
anecdotes, which were published in book form in 
i860, entitled •• The Castes of Edinburgh." The 
author styles himself **John Heiton, of Darnick 
Tov/er." This tower is near Melrose, and I have 
heard that John Heiton died there and was buried 
in the Abbey graveyard. His younger brother, 
Andrew Heiton, a Perth architect, inherited the 
tower, and died in 1893. What was the date of 
John Helton's death ? Probably some of your 
South Country readers will know. Also, was he the 
author of a great deal of verse published in the 
Edinburgh Ladles^ yournal under the pen name of 
"Anthony Oneal Haye," author of " Poemata," 
" Darnick Lays," etc.? I have been told that Haye 
was a Writer to the Signet, but I am doubtful if he 
ever existed. Some of the poems were very good — 
I have several — but I never saw any account of the 
author. Heiton also published a number of essays 
and sketches which he had furnished for that same 
paper, but I cannot recall the exact title of the book, 
although I have seen it. Was Heiton the editor of 
the Edinburgh Ladies^ Journal ? 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



779. Priest Gordon. — John Skelton is said to 
have given "a brief but admirable sketch" of Priest 
Gordon " incidentally" in Eraser's Magazine. Can 
any reader supply the date ? 

J. M. Bulloch. 

780. The Name McKelvie. — I shall feel obliged 
by any information (i) as to its origin, and (2), if 
Scottish, are the McKelvies connected with any 
clan, and what tartan would they have the right to 
wear? Wm. Ferguson. 

Perth. 

781. Burke's "Landed Gentry." — What are 
the respective dates of the editions, one to eight, of 
this work ? In the Public Library here there is only 
one copy, bearing the date 1849, but as no reference 
is made either on the title page or in the preface 
to the number of the edition, I presume it is the 
first. Have any later editions of Burke's "Com- 
moners" and " Royal Families," than 1838 and 1851 
respectively, been issued ? 



I Summerbank, 

Ediirburgh. 



W. Saundbrs. 



auBwers. 



530.— An Old Seal of Aberdeen (2nd S., VI., 
109 ; VII., 32, 47). —As a supplement to Mr. Cook's 
answer and with special reference to Aberdeen, it 
may be added that the Commissariot Courts were 
held in the Consistory House, which was built by 
Bishop William Stewart in 1559 in the west end of 
the north aisle of the Cathedral (Orem). Com mis- 



Vot. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



63 



saiy Courts were so called because they were held 
by officials or judges to whom the bishops committed 
duties belonging to them. They ceased with the 
abolition of the authority of the bishops at the 
Reformation, but were reappointed in 1563-4 with 
a new charter, and were held in the city of Aberdeen. 
On a representation from the burgesses of Old Aber- 
deen that since the Reformation it had nothing to 
depend upon but the College, an Act of Parliament 
was passed restoring the Commissariot Court to 
Old Aberdeen, November i, 1597. John Spalding, 
author of the *• Memorialls of the Trubles," was 
clerk of the Commissary Court about 1630, and he 
probably continued in office till his death, which 
likely took place in 1648, when, at the instigation 
of the burgesses of Aberdeen, an Act was passed 
transferring the Court to the southern town. The 
Rescissory Act of 1661, abolishing everything done 
by Parliament since 1633, was supposed to overturn 
the Act of 1648, and therefore another Act was 
passed confirming it ; but by the restoration of 
Episcopacy, Old Aberdeen was able to get back the 
Commissariot Courts in 1662, and retained them till 
1690, when they were finally transferred to a house 
in Castle Street, Aberdeen. A fire occurred in it in 
1721, by which all the records oi the Court were 
destroyed. Changes on Commissary Courts were 
made by Acts of Parliament in 1823, 1830, 1836, 
and 1850, and they were finally abolished in 1S76. 

John Milnb, LL.D. 

744. The Haigs of Bemersyde (2nd S., VIII., 
12, 46). — I may mention that a history ot the Haigs 
oi Bemersyde was written by John Russell, and 
published by Blackwood of Edinburgh in 1881, 8vo. 
This interesting family history covers a period from 
839 A.D. to 188 1 : Pictish Genealogy, Early Charters, 
Date of the Rhymer, A Soldier of Fortune, Bal- 
merino's Trial, Abduction of an Heiress, Jacobite 
Rebellion, Family Genealogy, etc. 

Robert Murdoch. 

759. Sir Hugh Halcrow (2nd S., VIII., 28).— 
The Halcros were a family of considerable distinc- 
tion in the early history of Scotland. They belonged 
to the breed of the old sea kings of Orkney. Tradi- 
tion traces their origin to Halcro, a prince of Den- 
mark. History unequivocally testifies to a marriage 
in the i6th century between a Halcro of that ilk and 
a grand-daughter of James V. of Scotland. From 
this union, in a later generation, came Margaret 
Halcro, wife of the Rev. Henry Erskine of Chirnside, 
Berwickshire, and mother of the Erskines, Ebenezer 
and Ralph, founders of the Secession Church. 
Shortly after the middle of the 17th century, the 
main line of the Halcros of Orkney became extinct, 
but numerous representatives of the name, branches 
from the original stem, subsequently appear in the 
Orkney Islands, especially South Ronaldshay, in 
Shetland, in Leith, and a few in England ; while a 
branch of the family seems to have migrated to 
Holland. It was as landed proprietors, clergymen, 
ship captains, and provision merchants that the 



Halcros sought to justify their existence. They were 
ever men of deeds rather than of words. So far as 
is known, no member of the family ever gratified his 
adversary by writing a book. I am unable to place 
** Sir Hugh Halcrow." The person so designated 
must have deceased subsequent to the year 1845. 
The name may be a «ow de plume, or the title merely 
one of courtesy; perhaps both name and title are 
*'the self-chosen memorial of one who would leave 
behind him no other history." Why grudge a paltry 
knighthood to a family in whose veins the royal 
blood of Scotland flows? If "Alba" will refer to 
Ebenezer E. Scott's " Erskine- Halcro Genealogy," 
Edinburgh, 1895, he will probably discover ample 
reason for believing the Halcros entitled to any 
number of knighthoods. Aliquis. 

760. Grace before Meat (2nd S., VIII., 28). — 
So far as my knowledge goes, the words cited are 
not well known as a grace either in the North or 
elsewhere in Scotland. The terms used in the query 
appear to be quoted from the fifth edition of Dr. 
A. Moody Stuart's ** Life and Letters of the last 
Duchess of Gordon." In the first and third editions 
of that work, however, no such words as those 
quoted are to be found. In both editions the intro- 
ductory chapter is largely made up of extracts from 
the " Diary" of Brodie of Brodie. On p. 26 of the 
first edition, the diarist tells of having been made 
an honorary burgess of Glasgow, and subsequently 
entertained at a banquet. As an appropriate reflec- 
tion he says in his " Diary," " Oh so little as meat 
profits! The meat for the belly, and the belly for 
meat, and both for destruction " — which sounds less 
like the gratitude of a thankful heart than the ex- 
postulation of a satiated stomach. Would Mr. 
Robert Murdoch kindly say in what connection the 
quotation he uses occurs ? Is it an extract from the 
"Diary" of Brodie of Brodie? or are the words 
introduced by Dr. Moody Stuart as applicable to 
something which Brodie has said ? S. 

761. Adam Donald (2nd S., VIII., 28). —Were 
there two •' prophets of Bethel nie "? Adam Donald, 
necromancer and quack doctor, according to the 
" Dictionary of National Biography," was born in 
1703 and died in 1780. The sketch of his life in the 
" Dictionary," based on a Peterhead chap-book, 
mentions that he was married and had a daughter, 
but does not speak of any son. Yet the query 
asserts that ''he flourished from 1820 to 1832." Has 
** Alba " fallen into error here, or is it a case of two 
" Richmonds in the field " ? W. S. 

762. James Clyde, LL.D. (2nd S., VIIL, 28).— 
Dr. Clyde, who was for some years one of the 
masters in Dollar Institution, is, I believe, still alive — 
at least he was so lately. "Alba" is, however, 
mistaken in saying that he was father of a Scottish 
judge. Perhaps I should rather say he is premature, 
as James Avon Clyde, the gentleman whom I have 
no doubt he means to specify, and who for a few 
months held the post of Solicitor-General for Scot- 



64 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[October, 1906 



land under the administiation of Mr. Balfour, has 
not yet been raised to the Bench. Doubtless, if he 
is spared till the Conservative party return to power, 
he IS in the running for a judgeship, but meanwhile 
he is only a member of the Scottish Bar. I may 
say that Dr. Clyde was the son of the Antiburghec 
mmister of Dumfries. W. B. R. W. 



According to the last issue of " Who's Who," Dr. 
Clyde was alive about the beginning of the present 
year. He was then residing in Edinburgh. It may 
not be generally known that he was for some years 
a Secession minister in Dumfries before becoming a 
teacher. As a Greek scholar he was held in the 
highest repute. The late Professor Blackie was 
never weaiy of singing the praises of his ** Romaic 
and Modern compared with Ancient Greek." In 
the junior Greek classes at Edinburgh about forty 
years ago **Clyde*s Greek Syntax" was well known, 
but not supremely loved by the students. Is not 
*' Alba " mistaken in asserting that Dr. Clyde is 
** the father of a Scottish judge recently appointed "? 
To the best of my recollection , when Lord Salvesen 
was raised to the Bench last year, the office of 
Solicitor-General, which he had held for a short time 
under the Conservative Government, became vacant, 
and James A. Clyde, K.C., Dr. Clyde's son, and one 
of the ablest advocates at the Scottish Bar, was 
chosen to succeed him. W. S. 

763. Glasgow Book (2nd S., VIII., 28).— "The 
Chronicles of St. Mungo, or, Antiquities and Tradi- 
tions of Glasgow," published in 1843, is attributed 
to Wallace Harvey. W. S. 

764. Georoe Blair, M.A. (2nd S., VIII., 29).— 
The details asked for by "Alba" I am unable to 
furnish, but hope the following additional particulars 
about George Blair may not be unacceptable. He 
was born at Perth in 18 18, and studied for the 
ministry of the Church of Scotland at St. Andrews. 
On completing his curriculum and receiving licence, 
he was appointed minister of the parish of Monzie, 
Perthshire. His poem, "The Holocaust," deals with 
an incident in the history of the parish, as is ex- 
plained in the full title: "The Holocaust; or, The 
Witch of Monzie : A Poem Illustrative of the Cruel- 
ties of Superstition, and Descriptive of the Burning 
of Kate McNiven, the Witch of Monzie, and one of 
the last Victims of Fire and Faggot in Scotland." 
After a brief ministry of two years, Blair resigned 
his charge at Monzie, and betook himself to literary 
work in Glasgow. His "Text-Book of the Tele- 
graph" was never, I believe, published. Of his 
subsequent career in Canada I have no information. 

W. S. 

765. Moses Provan (2nd S., VIII., 29, 48). — 
The sceptical banter of " Chappie" (whose identity 
his speech bewrayeth) makes it necessary to be more 
definite. Moses Provan, who is designated "of 
Auchingillan," is acknowledged in the proper quarter 
as the Undoubted founder of the Glasgow Athenaeum. 



The exact date of his death was February 21, 1871. 
There may be truth in the " Chappie*s " objection 
to his being described as "a prominent literary 
man," but he seems to have had many cultivated 
interests. The Glasgow Herald describes him as 
"an antiquary and a linguist," and says he had 
" a well developed literary capacity and taste, which 
was equally at home in foreign and native literature." 

Evan Odd. 

770. A. J. Warden (2nd S., VIII., 45). — Alex. 
J. Warden was born in 1810, and spent his early 
years at Kinnettles. In 1825 he came to Dundee, 
and served an apprenticeship to banking in the 
National Bank. He was afterwards managing clerk 
to Messrs. Balfour &. Meldrum, manufacturers, and 
began on his own account in 1833, erecting a linen 
factory. In 1864 he published his book on "The 
Linen Trade," on " The Burgh Towns of Scotland 
1870, and "Angus or Forfarshire," 5 vols., in 1880-85. 
Mr. Warden died on 24th February, 1892. 

Dundee. A. H. Millar. 



»> 



Scots Soofts of tbe Aontb. 



Eyre -Tod d« Qeorg^e. Scotland : Picturesque 
and Traditional. 56 Illustrations. 8vo. Net, 3/6. 

Gowans & Gray. 

Qoolrick, John T. The Life of General Hugh 
Mercer. Illustrated. 8vo. Net, 7/6. 
Neale Publishing Co., New York and Washington. 

Qray, Peter. Skibo : Its Lairds and History. 
With Frontispiece. Net, 4/6. 

Oliphant, Anderson. 

Mackay, Ans:u5, M.A. The Book of Mackay. 

Profusely Illustrated. 4to. Net. 21/- 

Norman Macleod, Edinburgh. 

Reld, Alan, P.E.I.S., p.5.A.5cot. Kinghorn: 
A Short History and Description of a Notable 
Fifeshire Town and Parish. Illustrated. 4to. 
Net, 2/-. L. Macbean, Kirkcaldy. 

Reid, Alan, P.^.A^Scot, and Wm. Kirk* 

Royal Dunfermline. Richly Illustrated. 8vo. 
Net, 6d. A. Romanes & Son, Dunfermline. 

Vaushan, Herbert M., B.A.Oxon. Last of 
the Royal Stuarts: Henry Stuart, Cardinal Duke 
of York. 8vo. Net, 10/6. Metheun. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

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SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES 



2nd 8Mm».J ^^"« 0' 



November, 1906. 



illQIBmiED{gJJ»pMi ^, 



CONTENTS. 

Nom:- PaQ» 

EUxa Inverarity ^ 

Brodie, Michie, and Oauld Families • . 66 

Forfarahire at a Factor In Scottish Life and lliought 69 

A Bibliography of Bdinbuish Periodical Literature . . 72 

Macpherson Lettem.— Ill 75 

Bibliography of Montrose Periodical Literature 77 

MiROK NOTKS:— 

Capt. Congalton— The Cant Family 67 

Simeon Orahame— Patrick Oed, li.D.— Still Boom. . 68 
Anthony Donlop-Oift to Bums' Danghter—D. M. 

Peter— Forfarshire, etc 71 

Scotch Church, Brfurt— "Patriotism* in 1778— A 

Journey from ISdlnburgh to London 74 

** Out of the Month of Babes"— Alexander Whitelaw 

—A Laundry Bill of the i8th Century 76 

The NorUiem Fencibles 77 

QuvaiBs:— 

Byron and the Plain of Marathon- Sir James Home 
Burnett's Challenge Bugle— Rhyme of Snuff— 
Leyden's Poems— *' Bosy -Angered Mora " 77 

A "ScoU Eeriew" of 1774— The Murder of Two 
Sons of Gordon of Bllon— Bsoonse— Brompton 
Oratory Design— Fetterangus 78 

AISWBBS :— 

Thomas Lawrance's Mortification— Lawrances of 
Pitscow, Kinlnmonth 78 

llie Lords Forbes and the "Bush of Kaitness"— 
lAwrances in Usan-^Tames Clyde, LLD.— George 
Blair, M.A.— Henry Shanks— Peter Paterson— 
" Thole, and Think On ! '—The Clan Maclean 79 

Origin of Names "Beinn lutham Mhor" and " Beag" 
—John Heiton— Priest Gordon — The Name 
M *Kelvie— Burke's " Landed Gentry " 80 

Soots Books ov thb Month 80 



ABERDEEN, NOVEMBER, 1906. 



ELIZA INVERARITY. 



Among the many vocalists whom Scotland has 
given birth to, none aroused more enthusiasm 
during the thirties of the past century than Miss 
Inverarity. She was young, handsome, beauti- 
ful, and possessed of a superb soprano voice, 
which, when exercised upon our native songs, 
was listened to with rapture by the citizens of 
Edinburgh. > I heard the late James March, an 



old tenor singer who had been trained by the 
celebrated R. A. Smith, and sang for years in 
St. George's Church choir, declare that Eliza 
Inverarity's singing of" Logan Braes," " The Lea 
Rijf,'' " The Birks of Invermay," and " Gloomy 
Wmter's Noo Awa'," was simply perfection. He 
had been an operatic singer himself and had 
heard all the musical stars, but no voice evoked 
the latent feeling in his mind like Eliza Inver- 
arity's. " She was a bonnie lassie," he would 
observe, " the grandest singer o* oor country's 
sangs that ever I heard, and she died young, 
about twenty- five years auld." Yet, strange to 
say, no memoir of this gifted lady is to be found 
in our biographical collections. Even Mr. David 
Baptie, in his " Musical Scotland," although he 
refers to her in his preface, omits her biography 
altogether. At anyrate, I have looked his book 
over (edition 1894; from beginning to end, and 
am satisfied that it is not there. 

I subjoin a few particulars which I have 
gleaned concerning her history. She was a 
native of Edinburgh, bom about 1813, and was 
the grand-niece of the unfortunate poet Robert 
Fergusson, over whose grave Burns erected a 
stone in the Canongate Kirkyard. During Fer- 
gusson's madness he was affectionately waited 
on and attended by his sister Barbara. She 
married David Inverarity, an Edinburgh cabinet- 
maker, originally from Forfarshire. They had a 
son named James, who, I presume, was the father 
of the famous can ta trice. James Inverarity was 
a spirited man, and it is remembered to his 
credit that when young he ably defended his 
uncle from the strictures of David Irving, who 
published a life of Fergusson in 1799. ^is 
daughter soon became known by her wonderful 
singing of Scottish songs, especially "The Lay 
of the Forsaken Maid,'' and its melancholy 
burden : 

Sae merry as we twa hae been, 
Oh, sae merry as we twa hae been ! 
It's a wonder my heart disna brak' 
When I think o* the days that are gane. 

Benjamin Franklin in one of his essays, alluding 
to the plaintive air of this homely song, which he 
heard sung in America by a Scottish exile, says 
that the sad refrain haimted his mind for days 



66 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[November, 1906 



afterwards. If the singing of this simple lyric 
moved the American statesman so strongly, 
what must have been its effect when sung by a 
charming girl, radiant in the full enjoyment of 
youth and beauty, and dowered with a voice of 
surpassing sweetness and power, every word 
distinctly enunciated, tingling on the overcloyed 
sensorium ! It had a startling and even electrical 
influence on great audiences in Auld Reekie- 
many were moved to tears, women sobbed, and 
all were visibly depressed with the magic of her 
wondrous rendition of the complaint of a love-lorn 
maiden. Besides, those songs were not Anglified 
trash or Italian stuff— mawkish affectations of 
refined sentiment, which foolish people think so 
superior, but emanations of native verse and 
witching melody from the " dear auld hameland," 
com in' frae thackit cot, or lordly ha', or lanely 
shielin' — Scotch in fervour, gloom, or gaiety — 
and strongly appealing to the poetry and 
patriotism of the hearer. 

Miss Inverarity's fame increased. She had 
the best musical education in Edinburgh, and an 
offer came from London for her to appear in 
o]3era. She went, and was placed under the 
tuition of Sir George Smart, and soon proved 
herself an apt pupil. Another Edinburgh vocalist 
was then m the ascendant and had been for 
several years— Marianne Paton ; but when Eliza 
Inveranty appeared upon the stage she easily 
eclipsed her townswoman. Her first ap]3earance 
in London was at Covent Garden Theatre, on 
5th April, 1 83 1, as Zetnira in Spohr's opera 
"The Magic Rose." An anonymous author of 
"Musical Recollections of the Last Half-Centuiy," 
2 vols., 1872, thus describes Miss Inverarity's 
debut : — ** She was eighteen years of age, tall, 
well-formed, with open, intelligent, and handsome 
countenance, and of easy deportment. Her voice 
was a pure soprano of considerable compass, 
full-toned, and of rich quality." She subsequently 
appeared in Rossini's " La Cenerentola," better 
known to us as '' Cinderella," and in other operas, 
gaining golden opinions everywhere. She was 
only a few years on the stage in London, when 
she abruptly retired into private life, "and lived 
but a short time afterwards.^' Such is the tale 
told by this anonymous writer ; the date of her 
death would be about 1838, if March's account 
of her being only twenty-five years old was cor- 
rect It is stated that she was married after 
leaving the stage, but the name of her husband 
never transpired. 

She remains to us Eliza Inveranty for ever, 
but now she is merely a name and nothing more. 
She flashed into sudden fame, and then as sud- 
denly sank into undeserved oblivion. The early 
death of this splendid Scottish songstress recalls 



to memory a stanza from a dirge written by an 
obscure poet : 

She died in beauty ! Like the snow 
On flowers, dissolved away ; 

She died in beauty ! Like a star 
Lost on the brow of day. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



BRODIE, MICHIE, AND GAULD 

FAMILIES. 
(2nd S., K///., p, 59.) 

William Gauld, as I stated, was bom 15th 
May, 1758, and, it may be added, died 25th 
April, 1 84 1. He was a son of John Gauld, 
Netherton, and his wife, Elizabeth (iracie. He 
removed from Netherton to Crofts, Glenbuchat, 
in 18 13. To a descendant of the family I am 
indebted for the following authentic smuggling 
episode, which I herewith append for preserva- 
tion in these columns, along with other remarks: 

William Gauld, in Crofts, previous to his 
removal from Tarntoul, along with Adam Hay, 
Upperton, and William Brodie, Backies, was 
captured by the excise, smuggling whisky, and 
heavily fined. Gauld was able to pay his fine. 
Brodie, while languishing in Aberdeen jail, wrote 
his wife, Mary Reid, daughter of Archibald 
Reid and Jean Middleton, to get sharp tools 
passed in to him so that he might break out. 
This alarmed her, and she rode, during the night, 
on horseback, from Tarntoul to Aberdeen, a 
distance of forty-four miles, to inform him that 
Lord Fife was using his influence to get him 
liberated — he being at that time employed by 
his lordship as gamekeeper at Backies. 

Brodie, it appears, was on intimate terms with 
the notorious Malcolm Gillespie, the Gauger o' 
Skene, and used to secrete a small barrel (which 
may yet be seen in Glenbuchat), as a sample to 
Gillespie, in a secret hole under a bridge at 
Skene, and for this obligement Gillespie allowed 
him freedom to pass with his ankers. Lexie 
Campbell, his housekeeper, once paid a visit to 
the Backies. 

Brodie when gamekeeper made perforated 
leaden bullets, which made a whistling sound as 
he shot them over the heads of the poachers to 
frighten them. Lord Fife, known as "the Good 
Lord James," paid frequent visits to the Backies. 
Brodie used to carry him on his back when 
fording the Buchat, while visiting the tenantry, 
the Buchat being heavy and covering the 
stepping-stones then in use, there being no 
bridge at that time. 

Touching the family of Gaulds I have already 



VOL. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



67 



referred to, it appears that this branch hailed 
from Glass, and were an exceedingly tall and 
strong race. James Gauld — whose exploits 
have already been described by the editor of 
"Epitaphs and Inscriptions" under the Parish 
of Glass, which appeared in the Aberdeen 
JoumtU — stood six feet four inches in height, 
as also did several members of his family. 
There were two distinct families in Glass, one 
dark and the other fair. The latter are reputed 
to be the progenitors of those of the name in 
Glenbuchat, who, I have shown, intermarried 
with the Michies. The dark race were famed 
locally as fist fighters, but the fair race have 
been more peaceably inclined. 

To the same stock of Michies, who were also 
strong men, belonged John Michie of Corrie- 
houl, who emigrated to America many years 
ago. Before leaving this country he composed 
a song, entitled "The Emigrant's Farewell." 
I cull a sample verse : 

Come, all my old comrades, once more let us join, 
Let UB join all our voices to muse on langsyne ; 
Let us drink and be merry, from sorrow refrain, 
For we may, and may never, meet all here again. 

Robert Murdoch. 



Capt. Congalton.— Readers of Dr. Carlyle's 
"Autobiography" (i860) will remember the fre- 
quent mention therein of a medical gentleman, 
Charles Congalton, who occupied a distinguished 
position in Edinburgh society from 1760 to 1780. 
Evidently on his death the family had fallen on 
evil days, for in 1840 the only members left were 
a widow and her son Samuel. The late Rev. 
Alex. Wallace, D.D., a Paisley man and minister 
of a large U.P. Church in Glasgow, was holiday- 
ing about 1867 at Aberlady, a small seaport on 
the southern shores of the Firth of Forth, and 
one day he was taken to this widow's cottage, 
where he saw a number of spendid silver cups, 
jugs, and medals which had been presented to 
her son, Captain Samuel Congalton, for his 
gallantry and humanity in saving life at sea- 
some of the articles had been subscribed for by 
the merchants of Calcutta. Dr. Wallace was 
surprised at the unwonted sight of so much finery 
in a humble cottage, and became deeply inter- 
ested in the poor widow's story, which he in turn 
narrated in some religious periodical — I read it at 
the time, but cannot recall it now. Briefly stated, 
it was to the effect that her boy was compelled 
by poverty to take a job at road -mending, 
and on a cold and rainy day he was so 
employed near Aberlady. An old skipper ob- 
served the lad at work, and was pleased to see 
that there was no scamping of the labour in such 



wretched weather, for the boy did his allotted 
task thoroughly. He asked the lad if he would 
like to go to sea, and he said he would. 
Congalton was then transferred to the old salt's 
vessel, where his progress was rapid and meri- 
torious. The skippers prescience in judging of 
the making of a good sailor out of such ordinary 
material was justified, for the landward boy 
developed into a powerful and athletic man 
as well as a daring and skilful mariner. He 
passed his exams, with honour, and got com- 
mand of a ship when very young. Eventually 
he was appointed captain of a vessel trading to 
the East Indies, and it was while sailing in 
those seas, so frequently visited by sudden 
typhoons, that he was instrumental m saving 
life. He repeatedly ventured and succeeded in 
rescuing shipwrecked crews, and his heroism 
was so conspicuous that he was made the 
recipient of many public testimonials in the 
East. He was a noble type of the manly 
Scottish seaman. He came to Melbourne during 
the great gold fever of the fifties with a cargo of 
East Indian goods — all the crew made off to 
the diggings. Hobson's Bay in those times was 
crowded with ships, with scarcely anyone on 
board — all bolted m the mad rush to the gold 
fields. Captain Congalton elected to remain in 
Melbourne, and became an East Indian mer- 
chant with the cargo which he had brought. 
His shop was 148 Collins Street East. Dr. 
Wallace did not finish the story, but I learned 
the sequel in the Melbourne General Cemetery, 
where there is a headstone, with an open Bible 
sculptured, with motto above : " Thy will be 
done," and, underneath, this inscription: "Sacred 
to the Memory of Samuel Congalton, late of 
Aberlady, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, who de- 
parted this life 4th August, 1 861, aged 33 years." 
Presumably the gallant sailor had friends in 
Melbourne who erected this tombstone, and sent 
the trophies of his intrepedity home to his 
sorrowing mother. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



The Cant Family.— Mr. Saunders, in his 
article on "The Cant Family" (p. 59), says, 
" Bawgillo is mentioned as being in ' vie. 
Forfare.' Can any one identify the locality ? " 
There are two Bagillos in Forforshire, one in 
the parish of Tannadice, the other in the parish 
of Monifieth. It was the latter Bagillo, or 
Balgillachy, which Patrick Gray resigned, and 
on which David Kante was a tenant. This may 
be verified by reference to Jervise's " Memorials 
of Angus and the Meams," vol. ii., p. 92. 

Alan Reid. 



68 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [November, 1906 



Simeon Grahame.— Only two of this writer's 
books have been preserved — **The Passionate 
Sparke of a Relenting Mind," a poetical pam- 
phlet, very ornate, printed in 1604, and dedicated 
to James VI., and "The Anatomie of Humours,'* 
printed at Edinburgh in 1609. Both were 
reprinted in one volume as a Bannatyne Club 
publication in 1830. Dempster mentions other 
two books by Grahame — " Vale Femininis " and 
" De Contemptu Mundi," but both have 
perished. Grahame's life history is meagre. 
Born in Edinburgh, son of a burgess, he attracted 
the notice of the youthful king by a pleasing 
exterior, and he obtained a cheap education at 
the University, for the king defrayed the 
expenses. Grahame became a fine scholar and 
also a famous toper, and wandered over Europe 
with an equal reputation for learning and de- 
bauchery — asserted so by Sir T. Urquhart. 
However, according to Dempster, he reformed 
and became a monk, and probably then wrote 
his " Farewell to Women '' and " Scorn of the 
World." Like all new converts, anxious to 
show his sincerity and to gain others to his way 
of thinking, he resolved to revisit Scotland, but 
died on the way at Carpentras (France) in 16 14. 
Dempster is the sole authority for this state- 
ment in his " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis 
Scotorum," 1627. Now, this notorious book was 
a posthumous one, edited by an Italian named 
Fabio Scoto (? Scots extraction), of Placentia, 
and had not the benefit of the author's personal 
revision, so it abounds with errors. I think that 
1 61 9 is the date of the old libertine's decease, 
because Lithgow, the famous Scottish traveller, 
has this item in 1616 — "Touching at Rome, I 
secretly borrowed one night's lodging there, and 
at the break of day another hour's sight and 
conference with my cousin, Simeon Grahame, 
who, ere the sun arose, crossing Ponio Flamingo, 
brought me on my journey, till a highway 
tavern, like a jail, held us both fast, where, 
leaving our reciprocal loves behind us, we divided 
our bodies east and west." In plain language, 
the traveller and the toper had a carousal 
together. The old Adam was still in Simeon, 
for he had notjjust then eschewed his former way 
of living. I scarcely think it possible that 
another S. G. was knocking about the Con- 
tinent at that time, but I daresay when he was 
fairly at low water in his finances he assumed the 
cowl to escape starvation. His "Anatomie of 
Humours" — a quaint title, which suggested to 
Burton ** The Anatomy of Melancholy" — is 
described by a modern English critic to be 
worthless, but evidently this person never read 
the book through, therefore his judgment is also 
worthless. Of course, it would be too great a 



sacrifice of principle to expect an Englishman 
to write favourably on anything exclusively 
Scotch. Nevertheless, and despite this splenetic 
attack upon Simeon, he is an acute writer, a 
severe censor, and an uncompromising moralist. 
His book forms an excellent homily on the follies 
of youth, written by one who had himself " gone 
the giddy round." Lithgow slavishly copied 
Grahame's fad of interweaving verse occasionally 
with his prose, but the traveller's poetry is 
execrable stuff. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



Patrick Ged, M.D. —Admiral Byron, grand- 
father of the celebrated poet, was a midshipman 
on board the " Wager," man-of-war, one of 
Lord Anson's squadron, which was wrecked on 
the Patagonian coast in 1740. He wrote an 
account of the wreck and the sufferings of the 
survivors in their terrible march round to the 
Spanish settlements. I quote from Byron's 
narrative : — 

When we got into San Jago we were sent into 
the house where Captain Cheap and Mr. Hamilton 
(both Scots) were. We found them extremely well 
lodged at the house of a Scotch physician, whose 
name was Don Patricio Ged. This gentleman had 
been a long time in the city, and was greatly 
esteemed by the Spaniards, as well tor abilities in 
his profession as his humane disposition. He no 
sooner heard that there were four English prisoners 
arrived in that country than he waited upon the 
President and begged that they might be lodged 
at his house. This was granted; and had we been 
his own brothers we could not have met with a 
more friendly reception, and during two yean 
that we were with him his constant study was to 
make everything as agreeable to us as possible. 
We were greatly distressed to think of the expense 
he was at on our account, but it was in vain for 
us to argue with him about it. In short, to sum 
up his character in a few words, there never was 
a man of more extensive humanity. 

This is great praise to come from an English- 
man, for it is seldom that any Scot gets credit at 
the hands of English writers : they are ready 
enough to stigmatise and impute unworthy 
motives. I have read somewhere that Dr. Ged 
was a brother of William Ged, of Edinburgh, 
the inventor of stereotyping, who died in 1749. 
Is that so? Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



Still Room (2nd S., VIII., 54).-r-If Mr. 
Saunders will consult " Stormonth's English 
Dictionary," he will find it gives the same mean- 
ing as Dr. Milne. Ugieside. 



VOL.VIIL 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



69 



FORFARSHIRE AS A FACTOR IN 
SCOTTISH LIFE AND THOUGHT. 

(2nd S., VIII., pp, 17, 4l> 50.) 



But though the county of Forfar played a 
large part in the struggles which established the 
Reformation in Scotland, it is perhaps more 
striking and suggestive, considering the strongly 
Presbyterian type of church leaders who at the 
Reformation were produced in Angus in the 
persons of Andrew and James Melville, as well 
as David Ferguson and others similarly minded 
—I say, it is perhaps more suggestive, in view 
and in spite of that fact that perhaps no Scottish 
county has produced more numerous or more 
influential champions of Scottish Episcopacy. 
My lists contain no fewer than 26 of such names. 
It is true that few or none of them have stamped 
their individuality on tlie memories of their 
countrymen in the way that the Melvilles, the 
Guthries, and the Wedderburns have done, and 
that none of their theologians can compare for 
a moment with such Presbyterians as James 
Durham, or Andrew Gray, or William Guthrie 
of Fenwick, an author of whom it is interesting 
to know that the great Puritan divine, John 
Owen, once averred that he regarded him as 
one of the greatest divines who ever wrote ; 
while, of his celebrated work, " The Trial of a 
Saving Interest in Christ," he declared enthusias- 
tically, "It is my vade mecum, and I carry it 
and the Sedan New Testament still about with 
me. I have written several folios, but there is 
more divinity in it than in them all." 

Another feature that has struck me in the 
lists of Forfarshire spiritual leaders which I 
have compiled is the extreme variety of religious 
denominations there represented, and the con- 
trasted types of character which they exhibit as 
prevailing in this region. Thus, passing from 
the 17th to the i8th century, emerging, that is 
to say, from the period when, as I have shown, 
the two opposing types of Church order re- 
presented by Prelacy on the one hand, and 
Presbyterian parity on the other, had equally 
staunch supporters among the men of Angus, 
I find that in the new age, sometimes called the 
age of Moderatism, which dawned upon Scottish 
church life in the 18th century, this same region 
developed equally contrasted types of religious 
life. Thus it produced, first of all, in John 
Hepburn, of Urr, that irreconcilable foe of all 
compromise with the Episcopal curates, who 
became the leader and founder of what was 
long known as the Cameronian or Reformed 
Presbyterian Church, while contemporaneously, 



as is well known, in the Angus parish of Tealing 
the little Glassite sect was originated by John 
Glas, the then parish minister. Then, again, in 
! the beginning of the 19th century, in James 
i Alexander Haldane and his brother Robert, the 
i same shire produced the leaders of that notable 
I spiritual revival which issued not only in the 
founding of the Scottish Congregational Church, 
but latterly also in a great development of the 
Baptist denomination in Scotland, one of whose 
leaders, the well-known Jonathan Watson, was 
a native of Montrose. It may be adverted to 
also in this connection that the redoubtable Dr. 
John Campbell, editor of the British Banner^ 
and one of the mighty men of English Con- 
gregationalism, was a son of Kirriemuir ere yet 
that ancient Angus town had received its present 
classic name of Thrums. I should not forget 
also to notice here that in William Christie, of 
Montrose, this county produced probably the 
first of Scottish Socinians. 

Let me further confess here that, as a former 
United Presbyterian, I find it a litde disappoint- 
ing that, in the dawn of the Secession Church, 
Forfarshire produced few of the men who helped 
to organise and promote that revolt against 
ecclesiastical tyranny and theological coldness 
and laxity. It is true that the Secession soon 
had vigorous and thriving congregations in 
Dundee and elsewhere in this shire, and that in 
William MacEwen of Dundee, whose volume 
on " The Types " had once a great vogue and is 
still occasionally read, the Secession Church 
produced even in the i8th century an author of 
considerable repute and influence. Nevertheless 
it is a fact, however it may be explained, that 
neither the Secession Church nor its successor, 
the late United Presbyterian Church, has drawn 
from this shire so lai^e a proportion of its 
leaders as we might reasonably have eicpected, 
considering its size and populousness and the 
general proneness of its people to liberal politics 
whether civil or ecclesiastical. Thus, among 
the Secession and United Presbyterian divines 
of Angus birth, the most important names 
known to me are those of Dr. David King, Dr. 
Peter Davidson, Dr. William Ritchie, and Dr. 
Andrew Henderson, all of them honoured to be 
Moderators of the church which they served ; 
while the last of them. Dr. Henderson, one of 
the most accomplished and revered of all, sur- 
vived to see the Union and to become one of 
the ministers of the United Free Church. 

The former Free Church, on the other hand, 
was much more influentially represented in 
Forfarshire. For, besides Dr. Alexander Whyte 
of Free St. George's in her present ministry, 
that church owed to this shire such great names 



>o 



scorns// NOTES and queries 



[November, 1906 



•V 



in her past ministry as those of Thomas Guthrie, 
William Chalmers Burns, and his brother Dr. 
I slay Bums, Dr. Samuel Millar, of Glasgow ; 
James Martin, of Edinburgh ; Professor George 
Ramsay Davidson, of Aberdeen ; and Dr. John 
Bruce, of Edinburgh, besides many others of 
less note. 

The Established Church has been not less 
fortunate. For I have no fewer than 23 sons of 
Angus on my tables who have rendered more 
or less distinguished service to the national 
Zion. And that these were many of them 
creditable examples of the piety and genius of 
the people of this shire may be inferred from 
the fact that they include names so respectable 
as those of Professor Mitchell of St. Andrews, 
of Dr. John Gibson MacVicar of Moffat — one 
of the profoundest philosophers of his church, 
of Dr. Barty also, known as the last of the 
Moderates, as well as the numerous scions of 
those Angus ecclesiastical families of Trail and 
Playfair who, during the i8th and early half 
of the 19th centuries, adorned the pulpits of 
the Established Church. 

But Forfarshire has not confined its contribu- 
tion of theological talent to the Scottish churches 
alone. . The Wesleyan Methodists of England 
owe to this shire Alexander Mather, one of the 
f^rst and most powerful of Wesley's travelling 
preachers, as well as David McNicoU, one of 
the earliest and most valued of the theologians 
of .that religious body. Moreover, in James 
Skinner, Forfar contributed to the High Church 
party in the Anglican Church one of the earliest 
and .most advanced of those Catholicising 
divines who originated the so-called Ritualistic 
Movement. Finally, Barrie, the Forfarshire 
novelist, as everjrbody knows, has made the 
whole world famihar with the Auld Licht church 
of Thrums in this shire ; and I am therefore 
pleased to say that, in the person of the late 
Dr. Wylie, of Edinburgh, the well-known anti- 
Papal lecturer, and who, I may add here, was 
in his early ministry pastor of the Auld Licht 
church of Dollar, Forfar has produced a notable 
example of the kind of man which that worthy 
body of Scottish Christians is able to train and 
develop. 

Passing now to the more exclusively secular 
side of the achievements of the men of Angus, 
I may notice that the noble families of this 
county — as represented by the Lindsays, the 
Lyons, the Ogilvies, the Camegies, the Grahams, 
the Ramsays, and the Maules— have played a 
very conspicuous part in the whole course of our 
history. Moreover, among the more important 
of the unennobled county families, as well as 
among the lesser gentry of the shire — repre- 



sented by the names of Edgar, Erskine, 
Bellenden, Fletcher, Hallyburton, Guthrie, 
Kinloch, Scrymgeour, Wedderbum, Wood, and 
Yeaman — not a few public servants of distinction 
have appeared. No one familiar with Scottish 
history needs to be told how prominent has 
been the place taken at almost every crisis in our 
national affairs as well as in the quieter periods 
of our national development by men bearing the 
names I have just rehearsed : and of these 
leaders not a few were men of Forfarshire 
birth. Relatively few, however, are aware of 
the part played by the men of this county furth 
of Scotland, and, therefore, I will briefly note 
here before passing from this point, that in our 
own generation Forfar has given to the Dominion 
of Canada one of its active politicians in the 
person of William Douglas Balfour; that in the 
Honourable James Inglis and the Honourable 
David Inglis, the Edzell Free Church Manse, 
in this shire, has sent ofit two of its sons, one of 
whom has gained distinction in India and the 
other in Australia, in which latter colony the late 
Sir Wm. A. Ogg, of Arbroath, as well as the 
three journalist brothers — George, £benezer,and 
David Syme, of Montrose — have also played a 
conspicuous part. To India, in addition to the 
names already mentioned, Forfarshire has also 
sent in our own generation a man so notable as 
the late Sir Henry Ramsay, K.C.S.I., a most 
skilful, administrative statesman, who, for the 
success of his gubernatorial work, was popularly 
known in the north of India as the *" King of 
Kumaon." Along with him we may also men- 
tion John Ingles Harvey, from Kinnettles, an 
Indian Judge, and Generals Henry Renny, 
C.S.I., and David Scott Hodgson, two British 
officers who fought bravely in the Mutiny ; 
Sir James Westland, for some time the Indian 
Chancellor of the Exchequer ; David Robert 
Lyall, C.S.I., Superintendent of Behar, as well 
as Sir James Lyle Mac Kay, the merchant 
diplomatist, hailing from Arbroath, who, besides 
acting as member of the Legislative Council of 
India, gained great reputation by the success of 
his negotiations in regard to the latest com- 
mercial treaty with China. It is interesting to 
notice here, that this same town of Arbroath — 
which, as we have seen, was the birthplace of the 
successful Indian merchant diplomat Sir James 
MacKay — has also supplied the United States 
of America with a soldier, in General Thomas 
Moonlight, who has also won distinction as a 
statesman as the Governor of Wyoming. Nor 
should 1 forget to name in this connection the late 
Sir John Kirk, in whom the manse of Barry has 
given to the Diplomatic and Consular Service in 
East Africa one of its most useful members. 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



71 



Were I to turn your gaze backward, however, 
to the age before our own, I could show you an 
equally good record of the services rendered 
both at home and abroad by Forfarshire men 
as politicians and statesmen. But I can only 
briefly allude to the work of one or two of the 
more distinguished, and, therefore, I merely 
recall to my reader's mmd the fact that the late 
Riffht Hon. Edward Baxter and Sir George 
B^four, as well as his uncle Joseph Hume, all 
three prominent Liberal politicians, were each of 
them sons of Angus. So, of course, also were 
Sir Alexander Burnes, of Afghan fame ; Fox 
Maule, Earl of Dalhousie, the well-known 
Liberal statesman ; Jonathan Duncan, once 
Governor of Bombay; and William Lyon 
Mackenzie, the leader of the Canadian rebels in 
the movement which led to the emancipation of 
that colony — and ultimately of all our larger 
colonies — from the bondage of Downing Street 
control. Were it necessary, I could go on in- 
definitely adding to these names, but I must 
here call a halt, merely remarking that I have 
ahready supplied sufficient evidence to prove 
how wide is the sphere in which the men of 
Angus have exercised their talents for the advan- 
tage of the world. 

W. B. R. W. 
To be continued. 



Anthony Dunlop.— Youngest son of the 
celebrated Mrs. Dunlop, whose published corre- 
spondence with Burns created such a literary sen- 
sation in 1898. Went to sea when only thirteen 
years of age, and spent the best part of his life 
in India and China. An elder brother, James, 
had a high military command in India ; but not 
much is known of Anthony's career, except that 
he was of a roving disposition. At length he 
returned to Scotland in 1828, somewhat stricken 
in years, impaired in health, and impoverished 
in fortune. He lodged in a hotel in Edinburgh, 
and on the recurrence of a malady from which 
he had suffered in the far East he rashly 
suicided. He was buried in the North Calton 
Cemetery, just outside the Laing mausoleum, 
and there is a flat stone, partly broken and level 
with the grass, over his remains, but with his 
name legibly cut thereon — "Anthony Dunlop, 
son of John Dunlop of Dunlop, died 29th June, 
1828, aged 60." I happened to mention this 
"And" recendy to the custodian of the Bums 
Museum in the Edinburgh Council Chambers, 
and he was somewhat incredulous, as he had 
not observed it when sauntering that way ; but 
** facts are chieFs that winna ding " — the stone is 
there and speaks for itself. His sister, the 
youngest of the family — the " bloomin' Keith" of 



Burns' verse — died unmarried at Ayr about 
1842, and was buried in Alloway Kirkyard, where 
there is a stone to her memory, resting against 
the outer wall of " the auld biggin'." I saw it 
there in 1863. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

Gift to Burns* Daughter. — Burnsites 
may be glad to have the following item of 
interest preserved in our columns. It appeared 
in the Aberdeen Journal^ 15th February, i860 :— 
"It appears that £261 13s. gd. is the amount 
raised for Mrs. Thomson, of Pollokshaws, 
daughter of Burns. Part of this money has 
been invested in a small property, which will 
yield a yearly income of ;^2o to Mrs. Thomson 
as long as she lives, with the reversion to her 
family. In addition to this settlement, the old 
lady has received £s^ ^^ cash." 

Robert Murdoch. 



D. M. Peter (2nd S.,VII., 142, 157).— While 
thanking those gentlemen who have replied to 
my query anent this forgotten worthy, I venture 
to suggest, with some timidity, that they are 
overlooking my principal inquiry, viz., the date 
of his death. We have evidence of his living 
till 1882, and ten years after he is alluded to as 
"the late." There should be persons living 
about Dundee cognisant of the fact. Mr. W. 
Norrie "ocht to ken a' aboot it." In looking 
over an old scrap-book which I filled during the 
fifties, 1 found an excellent imitation of the 
antique ballad entitled "The Rose-a-Lyndsaye," 
and in a prefatory note by the editor of the 
magazine it was stated to be written by " Mr. 
D. Macgregor Peter, teacher of dancings Kirrie- 
muir, a gentleman who possesses considerable 
poetic abilities as well as antiquarian learning 
and research." He might have taught J. M. 
Barrie. I have also heard that he was origmally 
a weaver, but I am groping in the dark. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

Forfarshire, etc. — It is very kind of the 
writer of these excellent articles to speak so 
highly of my book, " The Bards of Angus and 
the Mearns." But why has he made such a 
muddle of my name and habitation ? On p. 44 
he dubs me " Mr. Reid of Dundee," and on 
p. 50 he speaks of ** Mr. Stuart Reid's compre- 
hensive and carefully compiled anthology." Of 
course, " a rose by any name," etc., but to avoid 
confusion, it is well to remind my "brither" 
scribe that, though I have often appeared in 
print as " Stuart Bell," his references apply not 
to "Stuart Reid of Dundee" but to 

Edinburgh. Alan Reid. 



72 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [November, 1906 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc.) 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol, VIII., p. 35,) 

[Supplementary. ] 

1720. The Caledonieui Mercury : being a short 
account of the most considerable News Foreign 
and Domestick, and of the latest Books and 
Pamphlets imported from Abroad and Printed 
here. No. i. Thursday, April 28, 1720. 6 pp. 
folio, price i^d., three times weekly. Edinburgh: 
printed for W.^R. by William Adams, Junior, and 
are to be sold at the sign of the Printing Press in 
the Parliament Close, where advertisements are 
to be taken in. In No. 2 " W. R." is expanded 
into **W. Rolland," who was a member of the 
legal profession. In No. 3 the imprint adds after 
the words "Parliament Close": "and at the 
Printing House in Carubbers Close, on the west 
side of the Bishop's Land. At both places ad- 
vertisements and inscriptions are taken in." The 
first fortv-five numbers were embellished with a 
cut of the Scottish arms, which in No. 46 and 
onwards gave place to a crude flowered initial 
letter — a somewhat peculiar allegorical design 
with two figures, one Mercury and the other pro- 
bably Scotia. Thistles sprouted in numbers 
around, and a shield with the Scottish lion oc- 
cupied one of the corners.* 

The front page of No. i was occupied with the 
following address, which was repeated in No. 2 : — 

" For the satiflfaction of the Readers, the authors of 
this Paper do in a few words inform them That they 
may expect fh it a full, faitiiful, and impartial account 
of the News taken from the English and Foreign 
Prints, and also from the LeMers wntten to them from 
their Ck)rreBpondents. Particular care will be taken 
to insert Memoiials, Speeches, and any other Papers 
that are valuable and worth the preserving. And the 
account of the new books will be done with all imagin- 
able Impartiality. 

This paper will be published thrice every week in a 
few hours after the Arrival of the Poet Such as sub- 
scribe for a Year's Papers shall have them delivered in 
as soon as published to any House in Edinburgh or the 
Huburbs appointed by the Subscribers, they paying 
yearly 15sh., of which 3sh. and 9d. to be paid at the 
Beginning of each quarter." 

The second and third pages of the first number 
appeared in somewhat larger type than came to 
be the rule. Like its contemporaries, the contents 
of the Mercury for long years were nothing but 



* " It is curious to notice that in his initiatorv number of 
April, 1720, BoUand claimed a rigbt to identify his Mercury 
with that of 1660. This journal, he said in his preface to the 

Eublic, 'is the oldestTezisting] in Great Britain.' "— "Encycl. 
Irit", XVII., 422. The portion of the article " Newspapers " 
in the "Encycl. Brit." relating to Scotland is practically 
worUiless. The foregoing statement is an example of its 
unreliabilitv. No. 1 of uie Caledonian Mercury makes no 
reference whatever to the Mercuriui Caledonitu of 1660, and 
does not contain the sentence quoted. The references to 
the Mercury in Orant's " Newspaper Press" present a curious 
jumble. Statements have a century added to their date of 
origin without compunction. 



excerpts from the London journals — in this case 
the London Gasette, Evening Post, Wye's Letters, 
St, yames Evening Post, etc. Little or no pro- 
vision was made for local news. The Brst local 
paragraph appeared in No. 9, and had reference 
to the apparently trivial fact that two sons of an 
English duke had arrived in Edinburgh "with a 
good equipage." In the first 78 numbers not 
more than half-a-dozen similar ineffective notes 
occurred. The opening advertisement — that of 
an enterprising wood turner — appeared in No. 12 
(May 24, 1720), but advertisements increased until 
in No. 2o a page was devoted to them. The 
promise of reviews of books was meagrely fulfilled. 
Two works sufficed for nearly the first twelve 
numbers. 

■ Adams printed the first 589 numbers, and then, 
on January 13, 1824, the work passed to a firm 
that made itself famous during the course of the 
century. The imprint became ** Edinburgh : 
printed for Mr. William Rolland by Mr. Thomas 
Ruddiman, at his Printing House in Morocco's 
Close, the 4th story of the turnpike near the foot 
thereof, opposite to the head of Libertoun's Wynd 
in the Lawnmarket." The heraldic device gave 
way to a fancy ornament ; the typography was 
improved, and a promise was made that the 
paper would be published earlier in the day. The 
cause of the change of printer may perhaps be 
discovered from an advertisement which ran in a 
few numbers from July 23, 1724 : — 

"Mr. Rolland, the author of this pa|>er, being ad- 
judged by the Right Honourable the Karons of Sx- 
cbequer in a certain sum of money on account of the 
duty by Act of Parliament upon his newspaper, besides 
£20 sterling of costs, and for which ne has been 
incarcerated these six months by past, wherefore 'Us 
hoped all gentlemen and others, who get said news- 
paper, will forthwith send in what they are resting 
for the same in order to the author's liberation." 

By October Rolland was set free, but his wrath 
was by no means abated against those who were 
defaulters with their subscriptions. On the 30th 
of that month a notice appears demanding " their 
bygone rests " 

"witli certiflcatiou that they who thus continue in 
arrear shall not only have their paper stopt, but be 
rigorously prosecute for what they owe : Uie author 
designing to play the Fool no longer." 

In a short time the name of Mr. Alexander 
Symmers in the Parliament Close was added to 
the imprint as selling the Mercury , and the size 
of the paper was reduced to 4 pp. 4to with double 
columns — ill printed and on inferior paper. 
Rolland died in March, 1729, and with No. 1,396 
the journal passed into the proprietorship of the 
Ruddiman family : ** Edinburgh : printed for and 
by Thomas and Walter Ruddiman, and sold at 
the shop of Alexander Symmers in the Parliament 
Close." In May, 1736, a deed of co-partnery was 
signed by Thomas and Walter Ruddiman and 
James Grant. Grant undertook to collect the 
foreign and domestic news, to see the paper 
through the press, and to publish it — i.e., became 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



73 



the editor, with a circulation of 1,400 per week. 
The agreement was to hold good till April 17, 
1746. 

The Jacobite Rebellion of the '45 brought much 
trouble to the Mercury. On September 2, 1745, 
the editor admitted the following innocent-looking 
paragraph concerning the Duke of Athole : — 

*' His grace arrived here yettemijdit, having received 
a letter from his elder brother (who was attainted in 
the 1715) advising that he was coming to take up his 
quarters at the Ca8tle*of Blair." 

A terrible suggestion of disloyalty lurked in the 

words, and Athole lodged a complaint against 

Ruddiman. He was tried, convicted, fined £^ 

and 48 hours' imprisonment, or until payment was 

made, and in addition had to publish an apology 

for the paragraph as " false, scandalous, and 

injurious." On November i of the same year 

Grant renounced his part in the business, and, as 

Chalmers, the biographer of Ruddiman, says, 

''sacrificing his prudence to his zeal, joined the 

insurgents, and finally found his safety in France. " 

The paper shared the opinions of its ex-editor, 

and was, as Robert Chambers points out, an 

"enthusiastic Jacobite." It had, however, a 

certain degree of prudence, and while fully 

chronicling the doings of the rebels, succeeded in 

keeping itself free of legal entanglements with the 

Government. From Monday, September 23 (No. 

3,892), to Monday, November 18 (No. 3,916), the 

journal appeared anonymously, a course adopted 

no doubt to propitiate the Pretender at Holyrood 

and to avoid unpleasant consequences from the 

Government for any indiscretion. At the same 

time it escaped the paper tax, as the Stamp Office 

had taken refuge in the Castle. 

It has been a moot point whether the Mercury 
actually was more active on the rebels' side. It 
has been asserted that Grant carried off a press 
with him, and that he virtually became the Prince's 
printer. In the number for January 10, 1746, 
appeared this paragraph: — 

"The rebels carried oif Irom Glasgow a printing press, 
types, and other materials for that business, together 
with some servants to work in that way. When they 
carried off these materials they did it in this manner, 
that is, from one thev took a press, from another some 
typMf And from a third chases, farnltnre, etc." 

Mr. W. B. Blaikie, in a paper read before the 
Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, discussed this 
point, and concluded that for some purpose or 
other the paragraph was inserted as a blind, and 
that Grant did not work an itinerant press. There 
can be no doubt, however, that Government 
looked with suspicion on the paper. Thomas 
Ruddiman, younger, who had succeeded Grant as 
manager (or editor), admitted a paragraph which 

fave umbrage to the powers, and he was seized 
)ecember, 1746, and thrown into prison, where 
he remained for several weeks. He ultimately 
died September 9, 1747, from the effects of the 
imprisonment It is interesting to learn that, 
although the Mercury thus supported the Pre- 
tender, it 



"had on its subscribers' list the names of all the 
Qeorges of the British Throne— George IV., the last of 
our royal Readers, like a faithful Prince sending to 
our publisher, who admits that he had to 'dun his 
Majesty on the occasion of his visit to Edinburgh, an 
order for £20, the amount of several years' arrears." 

Sir Walter Scott makes a curious mistake in 
" Waverley." At the end of Chapter 24 he speaks 
of the Caledonian Mercury as being '*the only 
paper then published north of the Tweed " (at the 
time of the 45). He forgot the Courant, which 
was particularly vigorous when he wrote. His 
sentence, however, was too good to be lost as a 
catching advertisement, and in the concluding 
days of the Mercury it appeared in all its in- 
accuracy as a motto above the leaders. 

As was to be expected, the imprints of the 
Mercury reflected the various changes that were 
made in the proprietary firm.* On March 17, 
1748, it was 'Sprinted for Thomas and Walter 
Ruddiman." The first number for 1753 contained 
the notice : 

"We take this opportunity of wishing our Keaders the 
compliments of the season. Our appearance in this 
new shape would have taken place with the New Stile, 
had we not been under a necessity of postponing it 
in condescension to the Stamp Omce, which had a 
(luantlty of their former paper on hamL What 
naturally led us tr> this enlargement was a grateful 
regard to our Readers "— 

which regard grew out of a large increase of ad- 
vertisements. In May, 1772, the Mercury passed 
out of the hands of the Ruddimans, when 

"It was sold by tlie Trustees of Ruddiman 's grand- 
children with the printing house and printing materials 
to Bir. John Robertson, a printer of sufficient learning 
and opulent circumstances."— Chalmers' "l^ife of 
Ruddiman," p. 124. 

The issue for May 16, 1772, contained a notice of 
this transaction from the trustees. Among other 
things it said : 

" As Mr. Robertson has dealt by us with openness and 
candour in the course of this transaction, nnd is to 
continue the business in the same house and the pub- 
lication of the Caledonian Mercury in the same way, 
we presume to recommend him in the most earnest 
manner to all the friends and well wishers of the 
memory of Thomas and Walter Ruddiman." 

In 1776 Robertson made an interesting experi- 
ment. He had been advised to attempt a daily 
issue of the Mercury. The cautious publisher, 
however, did not wish to risk the prosperity of 
his journal, and determined to send out a supple- 
mentary paper which would appear on the days 
on which the Mercury was not published. Accord- 
ingly, on May 31, 1776, the Caledonian Gazetteer 
(see below) was begun. It lasted for the suggestive 
thirteen numbers only, and then Robertson, ap- 
parently satisfied with the results, dropped the 
Gazetteer (June 27), and published the Mercury 
on five days of the week. Thursday was omitted, 
because no post arrived on that day from London, 
"the great source of intelligence at present" 
The arrangement, however, came to an end on 
August 31, as the cost was '* insufficient to in- 
demnify " the publisher, even although 



74 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[November, 1900 



"during the existence uf thia imper rthe Gazetteer]^ 
the pobilsher had erery reason to expect that a daily 
paper, or at least one published five times a week, 
might be attended with singular advantages to the 
city." 

The cause of the failure was twofold. Communi- 
cation by post with the rest of Scotland was 
mostly restricted to three days a week, and the 
Government inopportunely determined to increase 
the newspaper tax. On September 2, accordingly, 
the Mercury reverted to its tri-weekly appearance — 
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the price being 

3d. 
26 Circus Drive, W. J. Couper. 

Glasgow. 

To be continued. 



Scotch Church, Erfurt (2nd S.,VII., 139, 
172). — Mr. P. J. Anderson is right. The article 
on "Scottish Religious Houses Abroad" ap- 
peared in the Edinburgh Reinew for January, 
1864, and was written by the Rev. A. Penrose 
Forbes, Bishop of Brechin (ob, 1875). What 
misled me was an article contributed to the 
Quarterly Review in 1849 by Joseph Robertson 
on " Scottish Abbeys and Cathedrals." I mixed 
them up, and am thankful that Mr. Anderson 
let me down so lightly, for he could have "brass- 
nailed'' me (to use an Australianism) further if 
he had liked so to do. I trusted to my memory, 
which is generally tenacious ; but last week I 
referred to my MS. notebooks, and there I 
found the extracts I had made some twenty 
years ago, and also that Bishop Forbes was the 
writer, although his name is not appended to 
the article in Question. Bishop Forbes based 
his account of that Erfurt monastery on a 
manuscript of an eminent litterateur, the late 
James Dennistoun (ob. February, 1855), entitled 
"The Scots Monasteries in Germany." I learned 
from it that the Scotch Church at Erfurt was 
originally a monastery founded a.d. 1036 by 
Gualterus de (ilisberg, Marshal of the Empire. 
The warrior effigy I saw in the church was that 
of its founder. The little chapel had been in 
existence for 866 years, but although this seems 
an extraordinary age for an obscure place of 
worship, I saw at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen in 
Cjerman maps) their Miinsterkirche or Cathedral, 
which is over a thousand years old. That 
mighty potentate, Charlemagne, who died a.d. 
814, founded this edifice, and is buried in the 
central passage of the church under a large blue 
stone (about 12 ft. by 8 ft.), with deep-cut 
grooves round its sides, and " Carolo Magno " in 
big letters in the centre. It seems that this 
particular monastery at Erfurt was obtained for 
the use of Scottish Catholics through the exer- 



tions of Bishop Lesley in IS78. He was an 
ardent supporter of Queen Mary Stuart and an 
able diplomatist on her behalf, and likewise a 
personal friend of Pope Gregory XIII. That 
pontiff interceded with the Emperor Rudolph 
II., who thereupon granted the old monastery 
for the education of young Scottish Catholics. 
It was placed under the superintendence of 
Ninian Winzet, Abbot of St. James's Monastery, 
Ratisbon, well known to the literary antiquary 
as an able antagonist of John Knox. Winzet 
filled it originally with Catholic refugees from 
Scotland, but latterly it was made a seminary. 
As I dearly love accuracy myself, I have here- 
with made ample confession, and now I crave 
plenary absolution from Mr. Anderson ; and, 
furthermore, request from him the date when 
John Harvey, author of " The Bruciad,'' secured 
his degree of M.A. from King's College, Old 
.-Xberdeen, say, from 171 8 to 1726. (See S. N. 
and Q. for August, 1905.) I am sorely handi- 
capped here, not having access to proper books 
of reference. Ai.ba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



" P.\TR10TISM " IN 1778.— It is very difficult 
to kill the tradition that the Scot in the latter 
half of the i8th century simply leapt to arms 
without much trouble. The amount of bounties 
and the large number of desertions show this 
not to have been the case. The professional 
recruiter, moreover, was in vogue, as this adver- 
tisement in the Aberdeen Journal oi December 7, 
1778, goes to show : — 

Whereas a speedy supply of able recruits are often 
wanted in the established regiments, new raised 
regiments, and corps of Fencible men, a gentleman, 
resident in London, who has served in the army 
. a number oi years with reputation, and who is 
at this period employed under the Secy, at [iiV] 
War in recruiting, undertakes in the most expe- 
ditious manner, directly or indirectly, to raise any 
number of able men for His Majesty's service on 
the most reasonable term. Address for A B, to 
be left at Ashley's Punch House, Ludgate Hill, 
London. 



A JOUFNEY FROM EDINBURGH TO LONDON 

IN 1757.— Sir John Gordon of Invergordon 
travelled from Edinburgh to London in 
September, 1757, with one two- wheeled and 
one four-wheeled postchaise, performing the 
journey of 389 miles in 57 hours and at a cost 
of £37 OS. 3d. The 57 hours, of course, were 
not consecutive, for he started on September 16 
and reached London on September 29. The 
turnpike charges were £2 3s. iid. 



Vol. VII L 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



75 



MACPHERSON LETTERS.— III. 
(2nd S„ VII., p. 167; VI II., p, 2.) 



The late Mr. Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, 
M.P., F.S. A.Scot, in his "Letters of Two 
Centuries " (p. 2 1 2), wrote of Ewan Macpherson, , 
younger of Cluny, that he " had a good know- 
ledge of business, as is shown by his letters, and 
did not disdain to add to his ificome by acting as 
Captain of a ivatck^^ and quoted the following 
in support of the latter statement :— 

Forres June 15**' 1745 
Received from Sir Robert Gordon of Gordon- 
stoun, the sum of ;f 4. 16 3d sterling, and that as 
his whole proportion of the watch money paid to 
Ewen Macpherson of Cluny, at the rate of half-a- 
crown out of the hundred pound of his valued rent 
to me. (signed) John Duff Junr. 

It is surprising that on such slender evidence 
Mr. Fraser-Mackintosh should have been led to 
make the assertion as above. The position of 
Captain of the "Watch," was one of great 
distinction and responsibility, and Cluny's elec- 
tion thereto seems to have been but a tribute 
paid to him by the country gentlemen interested, 
and involving Cluny in considerable pecuniary 
loss. 

It is hardly possible to believe that an author 
and antiquarian of Mr. Eraser- Mackintosh's 
reputation was not acquainted with the " Brief 
Account" of the "Watch" printed in "The 
Miscellany of the Spalding Club" (ii., 87-9), 
which clearly indicates the losses occasioned to 
Cluny, and confirmation of which will be found 
in the following copy letter addressed to 
Robert Grant of Tammore : — 

D' Sir 

I remmcmber you wrote me Some time agoe 
desireing accquaint you if Clunny was to Continue 
his watch this year, to which I gave a return, That 
as the neighbouring Countrys did not Join to Support 
the Charge, that he was Considerably out of pockett 
at least 150 peices, yet as his honnest Intentions and 
good performance was so Generally known, that 
though his pockett Suffered, His Charachter gaind, 
I think. I Suggested that there was non more 
Cappable to Signify these to the neighbouring 
Countrys about you, than yourself, And particularly 
and principally that you Should Suggesst it Seriously 
to the Laird of Grant. I need not inform you what 
poor situation the Highlands are in this year which 
will turn out to be the most dangerous wee have 
Seen in our day ; There has been Eleven men full 
armd Seen goeing down throw our hills the north 



Side of Spey on the water of DhuUan ; which made 
Severalls of the Country Gentlemen meett here 
yesterday, but could come to no Safe resolution of a 
protection, without Clunnys undertakeing as last 
year, which Could not be proposd, being without a 
fund to Support, he would not undertake nor could 
he be desired, though he exerted his part last year 
to Such Satisfaction, he could not Continue to bear 
Such loss : I doe think it hard, that the want of 
Consideration makes the very neighbouring Countrys 
not understand one ane other in ane affair that tends 
So much to their mutual Interest, And when nothing 
of their Subject is Sav'd but that rather their Interest 
Sufferrs by their not Joining: Their haveing Separate 
watches, will allwise Some (?) oppen passes to 
theives, whereas if they Joind in ane Generall 
method, it would turn out to both their Charachter 
and Interest, and when the Same Charge would 
answer to better purpose, and in a few years would 
extirpate theiving entirely, when in that event the 
country would be free of any Charge, I doe think it ane 
infatuation that neighbouring bordering Countrys 
Should not understand one aneother ; I doe not 
enlairge for haveing Clunny to be the person 
Generally Emplo^d, The Severall Countrys are best 
Judges of Chusemg a fitt undertaker ; This Country 
will allwise be readdy to contribute their proportion 
to any man whom the majority of voices of the 
Severall Countrys will be pleasd to Employ ; I forgott 
to Inform you that wee need expect No assisstance of 
protection from the new raisd Companys this year, 
as I was lately in Company with Some of their 
officers who told publickly that they were not to be 
depended uppon this year, as they were to be 
employd in recruitting and dessctplineing the men. 
I hade it likewise from the Lo/: President last week, 
(after laying the Situation of the Highlands before 
him), That the Countrys Should take Care of them- 
selves this year, and hade much to the Same purpose 
from the Generall : 

Have Sent you this express of purpose, That as 
the Country in Generall nave a Just Sentiment of 
your good and honnest inclinations of adviseing 
what is for the Generall Good, youl be pleasd either 
See the Laird of Grant or write him fully on this 
Subject, which I know you Can lay before him in a 
Clearer light than I Can express ; When I told the 
Country Gentlemen That you and I Corresponded on 
this Subject foremerly, it was at their desire that this 
is now Sent you. 

The bearer goes with a letter to Bailly Hamilton 
uppon Some affairs relating to our new ffactor 
Mr. Hamilton the Dukes Gentleman, from whom I 
hade a letter Sunday last from London. 

I have hintd a litle to Bailly Hamilton of the 
Gentlemens meetting yesterday, Concerning the 
Countrys protection ; which I told him should be 
laid before His Grace whose Intrest was much 
concernd ; The express is to Call in his return, and 
to wait till you be in condition to understand the 
Laird of Grants mind. 

I hope my last Came to hand which desired you 
Secure my meall and prone ; with my dutiful! Com- 



76 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [November, 1906 



pliments to you and my Landlady and to William 
when you See or write htm is all now from 

Dr Sir 
Your own &c. 

John Mcpherson 

Ruthven May 2«* 
1745 

The writer of the above letter was presumably 
John Macpherson of Inverhall, who held the 
position of barrack- master at Ruthven in 
Badenoch, and was the representative of the 
ancient family of Invereshie. He was the son 
of Thomas Macpherson by his wife, Elizabeth, 
daughter of John Grant of Culquoich in the 
parish of Inveravon. Thomas is stated to have 
been the son of William Dow Macpherson (a 
younifcr brother of Sir ^neas Macpherson, 
Sheriff of Aberdeen), by his wife, Janet, daughter 
of Alexander Mackintosh of Kinrara. 

The following copy letter serves to illustrate 
the difficulty experienced in collecting the 
expenses of the " Watch " : — 

D' Sir 

I have yours and have Sent you p the bearer 
Four pound Sterling which is a little more than I 
have got in of the watch money Since Cluny was 
here for which Send me Mr. Mcpherson's Recept and 
desire him tell Cluny y^ I shall be as active as 

fossible in Collecting the Ballance of that money. 
Saw Mr. Gordon the Duke's Factor here fourteen 
days ago who told me he could not pay any part of 
the Duke's proportion of the watch money untill he 
had orders from the Duke and I have wrote to all 
the Rest to Send in their proportions with all Con- 
venient Speed and many in Consequence of my 
writing have promised to pay in a very little time. 
When any money worth Sending comes in I Shall 
Acquaint Cluny of it that he may Send for it 

and am 

D' Sir 

Your Most Humble Ser^ 

John Duff Jun 
Elgin July 9^»» 

1745. 
The writer of the above letter was no doubt 
the same person as John Duff, a copy of whose 
receipt appears above as quoted by Mr. Fraser- 
Mackintosh. H. D. McW. 



Alexander Whitelaw.— I cherish a warm 
rep^ard for the memory of this graceful, fair- 
minded, and judicious critic, inasmuch that the 
books which he edited were the favourite 
reading of my boyhood, and have not been 
supplanted since. I refer to the "Book of 
Scottish Song,'' '*Book of Scottish Ballads,'* 
" Casquet of Literary Gems," four volumes, and 
"Republic of Letters," also four volumes. His 
biography is a neglected one. What I know of 
it is simply an outline, which others may fill up 
out of their greater knowledge. He was born 
in Glasgow in 1803, and his first or rudimentary 
occupation (a most congenial one, I should 
imagine) was that of an assistant to Dr. Robert 
Watt in the compilation of the "Bibliotheca 
Britannica," having as comrades on the job 
William Motherwell and Philip Ramsay, both 
subsequently distinguished in letters. Whitelaw 
soon got into notice as a writer of reviews, 
essays, sketches, and poems, and was freely 
recognised as a man of fine taste and discrimina- 
tion. He was secured by Messrs. Blackie, pub- 
lishers, Glasgow, as the editor of those handsome 
books I have already specified, which for beauti- 
ful printing, fine engravings, and careful selec- 
tion and editing have rarely been excelled. I 
have not the correct dates of publication, but I 
think the "Casquet" appeared in 1832; the 
"Republic of Letters" in 1835, inscribed to the 
Rev. Thomas Brydson, a poetical friend ; "Book 
of Scottish Song" in 1843; and the " Ballads " 
in 1845. ^11 those publications contained 
original contributions by himself and associates. 
He died in 1846 only 43 years old. His death 
was a positive loss to our national literature. 
There is a portrait of Whitelaw painted by Mr. 
A. Blair, which Messrs. Blackie would do well to 
have engraved and prefixed to any new edition 
of the books that Whitelaw so ably conducted. 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



"Out of the Mouth of Babes."— My little | 
chap, eight years of age, has noticed his father's j 
devotion to Scottish Notes and Queries, The > 
word " queries " is unusual to his vocabulary, > 
and be once referred to the paper as ^''Scottish 
Notes and Quarries^ and on another occasion 
as ^^ Scottish Notes and QuarreisJ^ Truth some- , 
times takes queer disguises ! 

Proud Parent. . 



A Laundry Bill of the i8th Century.— 
In Sir John Gordon's diary (MS.), now in 
the possession of Mr. Andrew Ross, Ross 
Herald^ appears the following prices, charged at 
Edinburgh (about 1757) for " washing linen" : — 

For ruffled shirt, including cravat and 

handkerchief, 3d. 

For ditto, plain, 2d. 

For a white waistcoat, if to be calendered, 2d. 

For ditto, if only to be smoothed, • . id. 

For a night-gown, 6d. 

For each shaving cloth, . . . . id. 

For each pair of stockings, . . . id. 

For each night-cap, ^d. 

For each towel, |d. 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



77 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF^ MONTROSE 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 

1 87 5. IValker^s Kincardineshire A Imanacfor 
1875 (I St S., III., 58).— In Mr. A. W. Robertson's 
Handlist, published 1893, I notice a query at- 
tached to the date of this publication which the 
compiler may now delete. Messrs. Low do not 
mention in their interesting bibliography that in 
1879 the above almanac bore the title of The 
Kincardineshire Household Almanac, This in- 
formation is drawn from the front page of a scarce 
pamphlet entitled "The Story of | Saint Palladius 
I and I His Chapel at Fordoun | Montrose : | 
Printed and Published by George Walker, High 
Street | 1879," t^ Pp-? covers additional, which 
originally appeared in the 1879 issue and latterly 
was reprinted with additions the same year. 

Mr. George Walker was a bookseller and 
publisher of distinction in the town of Montrose. 
Amongst the advertisements inserted in the 
pamphlet referred to, the following one appears, 
which now makes interesting reading. It runs 
thus : " George Walker, Bookseller, Montrose, 
having secured a portion of the French bloop-of- 
War sunk in the Montrose Harbour when land- 
ing troops for * Prince Charlie ' in November, 
1745, begs to intimate that he is having the same 
manufactured into a variety of useful and orna- 
mental articles at prices ranging from sixpence 
upwards." 

Mr. Walker's imprint, it may be be mentioned, 
appeared on several brochures of local character, 
and had, as pointed out by Messrs. Low, who 
made special reference to his death at the age of 
fifty-eight in 1889 ( i st S., III., 75), a very intimate 
acquaintance with the subject of them. 

Robert Murdoch. 



The Northern P'encibles.-— Reference to 
the Aberdeen Journal files discloses some more 
facts about this regiment, which was raised by 
the fourth Duke of Gordon. On Sunday, 
July 15, 1 75 1, a mutiny broke out, and on 
August 3-4, John Eraser and William Kennedy 
were court-martialled thereanent— the Duke of 
Gordon presiding. The result does not tran- 
spire. Among the desertions are those of : — 

Mclntyre, aged 30 ; 5 ft. 9 : born at 



Kingussie, [jfournalf March 8, 1779. ) 
John Cosse, aged 24 : born at Kincardine, Inver- 
ness-shire, (jfoumalt July 29, 1782.) 
Euan McPhie, aged 33 : born at Kilmalte. {Ibid. ) 

The regiment is variously designated : thus — 
''Northern Fencible Highlanders," "Northern 
Fencible Regiment," ** North Fencibles.'' 



dHueried. 



78a. Byron and the Plain of Marathon. — 
The Aberdeen journal of November 28, i860, p. 6, 
is responsible tor the following: — ** Interesting Sale. 
— The Forest of Soignies, through which Welling- 
ton's men marched to Waterloo, is in the market." 
B3Ton was once about to purchase the Plain of 
Marathon. Query: When? 

Robert Murdoch. 

783. Sir Jambs Horn Burnett's Challenor 
Bugle. — In the dining-room of the Balcarres Hotel, 
Echt (Mr. G. H. Smythe, proprietor), there is de- 
posited for preservation a silver bugle bearing the 
following inscription : — '* Presented | to the | Kin- 
cardineshire Administrative Battalion | of | Rifle 
Volunteers | by | Sir James Horn Burnett of Leys, 
Bart., I Lord Lieutenant of the County. | 20th 
August, I 1864. I Challenge Bugle." Will a sub- 
scriber tell me whether the above battalion merged 
into the Gordon Highlanders Volunteers? I presume 
there is a history connected with the bugle. U so, 
particulars will be heartily welcomed. 

Robert Murdoch. 

784. Rhyme on Snupf.— The undernoted rhyme 
was taken down from the lips of an old lady who 
passed away recently. It possesses little or no 
merit, and looks like a modem production : — 

Qod blest that benefit which we call gnoff, 

For before meat and after meat it it the real ituff ; 

It clean the eyes and quickens the senses, 

And does a great deal of good with little expenses. 

Has it been in print elsewhere ? 

Robert Murdoch. 

785. Levden's Poems.— It strikes me forcibly 
that the second line in both versions of the '* Sabbath 
Morning Sonnet," given on p. 60, shows a false, a 
redundant quantity, and that the word ** all '* is an 
interpolation that destroys the balance of the line. 
Readers can easily determine this by a trial of'* both 
ways." One is curiously eager to know if the false 
quantity actually appeared in Leyden's manuscript. 
Perhaps Mr. Sinton will say. 

Alan Reid. 

786. ** Rosy-fingered Morn." — On p. 6 of the 
present volume, '*Alba" discourses with his usual 
felicity on this poetic expression. It occurs to me 
to mention that still another instance of its use is 
found in Spofforth's glee, "Hail, Smiling Morn," 
the words of \^diich read : 

Hail ! Smiling mom, that tips the hills with gold, 
Whose rosy fingers ope the gates of day ; 

Who the gay face of Nature doth unfold, 
At whose bright presence darkness flies away. 

I cannot name the author, nor can I find the quota- 
tion though I have often tried. Perhaps some reader 
may direct me to its source ? Alan Reid. 



78 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[November, 1906 



787. A "Scots Review" of 1774. — A publica- 
tion of this name was issued in Edinburgh in the 
above year, and I am anxious to discover if it was 
a periodical. Writing of it, David Hume asked a 
friend if he had seen *'the specimen of a Scotch 
review." The Scot\ Magazitu said that *' it pro- 
fesses to give a prospectus and a specimen of an 
intended review." Hill Burton, however, refers to 
it as '* this thin, duodecimo pamphlet." Everything 
points to its being Ajeu d^esprit in the form of the 
first number of a periodical, but perhaps someone 
may be able to say definitely, and indicate where a 
copy may be examined. W. J. C. 

788. The Murder op Two Sons op Gordon 
OP Ellon (2nd S., VIII., 53). — In this paragraph 
Dr. Milne gives an account of events which took 
place on April 28, 17 17, and on May i, 17 17, and 
adds : '* The proceedings are related in the Edin- 
burgh Courant of the time.*' I would be greatly 
obliged if Dr. Milne would be more explicit in his 
reference to the newspaper, as I have reason to 
believe that no Conrant was issued at that date. 
The last issue of the Edinburgh Conrant I have been 
able to trace and examine is dated March, 17 10, and 
the Edinburgh Evening Courant, usually spoken of 
shortly as the Edinburgh Courant, did not begin its 
career till December 15, 171 8. It would be a great 
point gained if it can be shown that the paper 
existed in 17 17. W. J. C. 

789. EscoNSE. —Is the word ** esconsed " — snugly 
esconsed, etc. — a good English vocable, or is it only 
used in Scottish dialect ? The old French is esconcer^ 
to conceal, and esconse^ part of a candlestick. Latin, 
abscondere and absconsa, I do not find the word 
in the "Imperial" or the "Twentieth Century" 
dictionaries. A. M. 

Durris. 

790. Brompton Oratory Design. — The late 
Mr. Andrew J. Gordon, architect, son of David 
Gordon, surveyor, Beauly (a member of the TuUoch- 
allum family), was trained with Matthews, Aberdeen, 
and is said to have put in the most artistic, though 
not the winning, design for the Oratory. Where 
can I find a description of his plans ? He exhibited 
the following designs at the Royal Academy 
(Graves's Royal Academy ^ iii., 274): — 

1887. — ** Design for Roman Catholic church, 

N.B." What church was this ? 
1888.—" Study for a Scotch mansion." 
1901. — " Huntercombe Manor, Oxfordshire." — 
This is the home of the Hon. Mrs. Boyle 
("E.V.B."), who is the daughter of Alexander 
Gordon of Ellon. This house was described in 
Country Life^ May 6, 1899. 

Where can I find an account of the various 
buildings designed by Mr. Gordon, who belonged to 
an ardent Catholic family ? 

J. M. Bl»M.OCH. 



79Z. Fbtterangus. — The Aberdeen Journal of 
April 26, 1757, announces the sale of Fetterangus 
on May 13, 1757 :— 

The lands of Fetterangus are extremely well aooom- 
modated, are thirled to no mill, and consist of about 
300 acres of rich arable land, which has been lately and may 
still be greatly improved by watering and lime, as they are 
well situated and only by about 2 or 3 miles from several 
lime quarries. William Gordon, the present proprietor, 
possesses the mansion house and part of said lands, for which 
he will pay the purchaser 450 merks and 16^ bolls farm meal 
at 8 stone for crop 1757, and will take a tack thereof 
for several years at the present rent. The other part of 
the said land, which ts under tack, pays yearly 26^ bolls of 
meal at 8 stone 1 boll, and £132 Scots. 



Who bought the estate ? 



J. M. B. 



HudwerB. 



44Z. Thomas Lawrancb's Mortification (2nd 
S., v., 188; VI., 15, 31).— Rev. Dr. Stewart, Peter- 
head, thus wrote Mr. John A. Henderson, Avondale, 
Cults, the talented editor of *' Inscriptions and Epi- 
taphs," on nth November, 1905: — **I have only 
just learned the application of Thomas Lawrance*s 
Mortification. It was in the hands of the Town 
Council, in terms of his deed, and was in aid of a 
poor school and education generally. It was to be 
invested in Government securities, and to produce 
£10 per annum. Recently it has been administered 
by the School Board of the burgh. The Education 
Blue Book, igo^-7, states that the first election 
of the School Board of Peterhead Burgh was 14th 
April, 1873, and Peterhead Landward loth May, 
1873. Mr. George Lawrance, Rangoon, a grand- 
nephew of the founder of the mortification (who 
alleges he was so named after a former George 
Lawrance, who went to the West Indies and was 
never heard of again), says that the mortification 
was founded to educate two lads at the Peterhead 
Academy. His brothers, Charles Scott, Robert 
Scott, and Thomas (all deceased) were educated 
there in the usual course. He laments that the 
name of this educational benefactor should be so far 
forgotten, and that no tablet or mark of some kind 
should keep his memory green, and hopes that the 
Town Council of Peterhead will rectify this grave 
omission. Not even the history of the town refers 
to him— a most regrettable incident. 

Robert Murdoch. 

47Z. Lawrances of Pitscow, Kininmonth (2nd 
S., VI., 45, 64).— The Rev. James Forrest, The 
Manse, Lonmay, writes to the effect that he has 
bothered Mr. Lawrance, Pitscow, to give him his 
genealogy, but he takes no interest in such matters. 
He says his Lawrances came from the South, stayed 
about Byth for some time, and then came along to 
this quarter. He did not know of any of the Law- 
rances or Lawrences on the Register of Baptisms 
kept by Rev. William Cock, Rathen (acopy of which 
has been sent me by Mr. Forrest, to which I should 
like to refer at some future date) and has no connec- 



Vol. VI 1 1. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



79 



tion with my Cairnchina Lonmay folks. The register 
has the following variations — Lawrence, Laurence, 
Laurance, and Lawrance, and the dates are from 
1766 to 1842. Robert Murdoch. 

600. The Lords Forbes and the **Bush op 
Kaitness" (and S., VII., 13, 48). — I referred this 
query to a Caithness friend who interests himself in 
antiquities. He says that as a place-name in Caith- 
ness it is unknown to him, and suggests that the 
word means *< centre." He points to the fact that 
the hub of a cart wheel is usually named the ''bush." 
I may add that the spelling "Kaitness" very ac- 
curately gives the local pronunciation of the name 
of the county. Corson Cone. 

75A. Lawrances in Usan (2nd S., VIII., 13). — 
On the strength of a three week's residence in the 
quaint Forfarshire fishing village, I can affirm that 
there are no Lawrances in Usan, nor in the locality. 
More, there is now no vintner in the place, and it 
may interest Robert Murdoch to learn that William 
Lawrance's cottage hostelry is now the country resi- 
dence of D. H. Edwards of Brechin, beloved of the 
bardic tribe. The well in which, according to the 
epitaph in Maryton Churchyard, wee Willie Lawrance 
was drowned, is but a few paces in front of the door, 
and has long been securely covered. Lawrance was 
an incomer to the place, and he left no trace of his 
sojourn beyond the quaint rh)rme, which is still quite 
legible, at Maryton. The surname Patton or Paton 
is paramount at Usan now. Alan Reid. 

762. James Clyde, LL.D. (and S., VIII., 28, 
63). — Permit me to express sincere regret for an 
error in my answer in last month's issue of Scottish 
Notes and Queries. I stated that Dr. Clyde had 
been '*a Secession minister in Dumfries." It was, 
of course, his father, as"W. B. R. W." has correctly 
pointed out. Dr. Clyde was licensed to preach, and 
for something like a year went about as a Secession 
probationer, but was never ordained as minister of a 
settled charge. W. S. 

764. George Blair, M.A. (2nd S., VIII., 64).— 
The following is a copy of the title page of a book 
in the Sandeman Library, Perth: — 

" The Holocaust ; i or, the Witch of Monzie : | 
a Poem | Illustrative of the Cruelties of Supersti- 
tion ; I Lays of Palestine ; | and other Poems, | 
to which is prefixed | Enchantment Disenchanted ; 
I or, a Treatise on Superstition. | By the Rev. 
George Blair. | Aut prodesse volunt; aut delectare 
poetae ; | aut simul et jucunda et idonea dicere 
vitae.— Hor. | London: J. F. Shaw, 27, Southamp- 
ton Row, Russell Square. | Edinburgh : Thomas 
Paton, Howe Street. | Perth: Thomas Richard- 
son, George Street. | mdcccxlv." 

The book is divided into four parts: Part I., "En- 
chantment Disenchanted"; Part II., *• The Holo- 
caust"; Part III., "Lays of Palestine"; Part IV., 
** Miscellaneous Poems." The page is 7^x4,^ in. 



** Printed by the Perth Printing Company : W. 
Belford, Printer." 

yUg. Henry Shanks (2nd S.,VIII., 45). — I have 
much pleasure in informing "Alba" that my dear 
old friend Henry Shanks, the blind poet of the 
Deans, is alive and well. A full biography of his 
remarkable career appears in the eleventh volume of 
Edwards' " Modern Scottish Poets," but I may state 
here that though " Harry" is in his 77th year, and 
has been blind for over forty of these years, his is a 
stalwart frame, and that his personality and conver- 
sation are as striking and interesting as in the days 
of his literary activities. He is resident at Bath- 
gate, not far from the scene of his birth, and by no 
means forgotten by the numerous admirers of his 
worth and ability. Alan Reid. 

Henry Shanks, "the blind poet of the Deans," 
near Bathgate, is no longer alive. His death was 
announced in the daily newspapers some months 
ago — I think, about the beginning of the present 
year. S. 

77X. Peter Paterson (2nd S., VIII.,45). — The 
alliteration in the name is somewhat suspicious, and 
slightly reminiscent of the " Lee Lewes" of an earlier 
period, who wrote "Anecdotes of the English and 
Scottish Stages." At the same time, *' Peter Pater- 
son " is not included in Halketf and Laing's list of 
pseudon)rmous writers, as probably he would have 
been had the title been a nom de plume. In the 
"Maidment Sale Catalogue" Paterson's book is 
entered under the name " Paterson (Peter)," and 
entitled " Behind the Scenes: being the Confessions 
of a Strolling Player," Edinburgh, 1858. Allibone 
gives the title more fully, or perhaps is referring to a 
different work, when he attributes to Peter Paterson, 
"Glimpses of Real Life as seen in the Theatrical 
World and in Bohemia: being the Confessions of 
Peter Paterson, a Strolling Comedian," Edinburgh, 
April, 1864 ; 2nd edition, November, 1864. The 
evidence seems to point to Peter Paterson as the 
author's real name. S. 

772. " Thole, and Think On I " (2nd S.,VIII., 
45). — The motto of the ancient family of Tweedie of 
Drummelzier, in Peeblesshire, was "Thole and 
Think," while that of Maxwell of Cardoness, in 
Kirkcudbrightshire, is "Think On." I would venture 
to suggest that the inscription on the tombstone in 
Liberton Kirkyard may have been chosen by the 
stonecutter as an appropriate message from the dead 
to the living— "Thole, and Think On," or, "Endure 
present ills, and remember the future," as the words 
may perhaps be paraphrased. W. 

773. The Clan Maclean (2nd S., VIII, 45).— 
"Seneachie," who wrote the " Historical and Genea- 
logical Account of the Clan of Maclean," London, 
Smith, Elder, 1838, was Lachlan Maclean. A later 
history of the clan, written by an American Maclean, 
establishes, I believe, Lachlan Maclean's authorship. 

S. 



So 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [November, 1906 



777. Origin of Names "Beinn Iutharn Mhor" 
AND "Beag" (2nd S., VIII., 62). — According to 
Smith (** History of Aberdeenshire," i., 372), "Beinn 
Iutharn Mhor" and "Iutharn Beag" signify** the 
mountains of power and strength.'* I greatly prefer 
Mr. Sidney C. Couper's more picturesque, if also 
more lurid, definition, in which, by the way, he is 
corroborated by the late Mr. James Macdonald in 
his *• Place Names of West Aberdeenshire." Assum- 
ing Mr. Couper's definition to be correct, one might 
be inclined to believe that the tragic fate of Diarmid, 
a Fingalian hero, reported to have occurred some- 
where in the neighbourhood, or, at least, in the 
same parish, may perhaps have given rise to the 
names ** big" and '* little mountains of hell." 

W. 

778. John Heiton (2nd S., VIII., 62^.— 
Jonn Heiton, of Darnick Tower, author of '* The 
Castes of Edinburgh," died in 1870. Andrew 
Heiton, F.S.A., architect, Perth, who succeeded 
him, was his cousin, not his younger brother. John 
Heiton also wrote •* Old World and Young World," 
Edinburgh, 1865. Of '* Anthony Oneal Hayt" I 
can say nothing. The name does not occur among 
Halkett and Laing's pseudonymous writers. 

S. 

779. Priest Gordon (2nd S., VIII., 62).— There 
is an article on ** General Patrick Gordon " in 
** Eraser's Magazine," vol. 44, 185 1. Perhaps it may 
contain the reference which Mr. J. M. Bulloch 
requires. S. 

780. The Name McKelvie (2nd S., VIII., 62).— 
This is a name of infrequent occurrence. I can only 
recall at the moment two persons of note who have 
borne it, both of them Scotsmen, namely. Rev. 
William McKelvie, D.D., historian of the U.P. 
Church, and author of a " Life of Michael Bruce "; 
and D. G. (?) McKelvie, a journalist, and champion 
draughts player. The name, I venture to think, has 
a territorial origin. It is perhaps connected with 
the river Kelvin at Glasgow. So far as I have been 
able to ascertain, the McKelvies are not a sept of 
any Highland clan, have no tartan of their own, 
and are not entitled to assume that of any other 
family. W. 

781. Burke's ''Landed Gentry" (2nd S.,VIII., 
62).— Under "John Burke," the "Dictionary of 
National Biography" says: — "Between 1833 and 
1838, he [Burke] published *A Genealogical and 
Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain 
and Ireland,' in four 8vo volumes; another edition 
was issued in 1837-8; and a third edition, in two 
volumes, between 1843 and 1849. The title was 
altered in the later editions to * A Dictionary of the 
Landed Gentry '; and a supplementary volume ap- 
peared in 1844 containing corrigenda and a general 
index." The first edition of "Landed Gentry" 
is generally dated 1848, and subsequent editions run 
from that period. There was an edition in 1858 ; 



the 4th edition, in two parts, appeared 1862-3 \ ^"* 
other " 4th edition, revised and enlarged," was pub- 
lished in 1868 ; the 5th edition bears date 1871 ; and 
there was another edition in 1882. These details, I 
trust, may be of some slight use to Mr. W. Saunders. 
I am, however, by no means sanguine that the dates 
specified will do anything more than add to the 
prevailing confusion, because I am given to under- 
stand that a correct enumeration of the various 
editions of Burke's books forms one of the most 
insoluble problems in modern bibliography. There 
is no edition of ** Royal Families," I believe, later 
than 185 1. W. S. 

* 

Scots Soofts ot tbe Aontb. 



Cram, Ralph Adams. The Ruined Abbeys ot 
Great Britain. Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 
Net, I2S. 6d. Gay & Bird. 

Crawford, J. H. From Fox's Earth to Moun- 
tain Tarn : Days among the Wild Animals of 
Scotland. 17 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. los 6d. 

John Lane. 

Qraham, H. Qrey. Social Life of Scotland in 

the Eighteenth Century. 8vo. Net, 5s. 

A. & C. Black. 

Lea, J. Henry. Genealogical Research in 
England, Scotland, and Ireland. A Handbook 
for the Student Net, 7s. 6d. 

London : Mitchell, Hughes, & Clarke. 

Simpson, H. F. Morland, M.A., P. 5. A. 
Scot. Bon -Record : Records and Reminiscences 
of Aberdeen Grammar School from the Earliest 
Times by many Writers. Profusely Illustrated. 
Super- Royal 8vo. Net, 12s. 6A 

Aberdeen : David Wyllie & Son. 

Walker, Very Rev. William, in.A., LL.D. 

Additional Reminiscences and A Belated Class 
Book (King's College, 1836-40). With 2 Illustra- 
tions. Crown 8vo. Net, 2S. and 2s. 6d. 

Aberdeen : David Wyllie & Son. 

Wilson, Jotin, D.D., Minister at Dunning 
(18611878). Dunning: its Parochial History, 
with Notes, Antiquarian, Ecclesiastical, Baronial, 
and Miscellaneous. Edited by W. Wilson, M.A., 
Minister at Trossachs. 3 Illustrations. 8vo. 
Net, 2S. Crieff: D. Phillips. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. En. 

Printed and Published at The Roaemonnt Press, Aberdeen. 
Literary communications should be addressed to the Editor^ 
23 Osborne Place. Aberdeen; Advertisements and Business 
Letters to the Publishers, Farmer's Ball Lane, Aberdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL. vni. 1 No 6 

2Qd aSBIES. J ^^ ^' "• 



December, 1906. 



itE0I8T.RB){g«»p«i ^ 



CONTENTS. 
NOTES :- Page 

Forfarshire aa a Factor in Soottiih Life and Thouglit 81 

The Surtees Ballad Franda. 86 

The Wells of Aberdeen 87 

Aberdonians Abroad : Henry Farquharson 89 

The Arms of the City of Aberdeen 90 

MiNOB Notes :— 

Traditions Selating to the Lawrance Family^ 
Northern Fencibles— Aberdeen-American Gradu- 
ates. 84 

The Gordons of Minmore— Alexander Sinclair Gor- 
don, Volanteer Bnthusiast— The Character of the 
Cabrach— Alexander Family— Leyden's Poems— 
HtillRoom 85 

Forfarshire— Forfarshire as a Factor in Scottish Life 
and Thought— Stone Coffin found at Leslie 88 

Laurence Cockbum— A Curious Prophecy Fulfilled . . 91 

QCBRIE8 :— 

Gordon House Academy, Kentish Town, London- 
Edith Aitken 91 

David Lindsay— " Coxswain Johnnie "—Robert Gor- 
don of Xeres de la Frontera— BAmsay of Abbotshall 
and Waughton— The Grants of Auchaiinachy— Mr. 
George Caw, Printer, Hawick 92 

Prince Charlie's Persian Horse 93 

AHSWKRS :— 

Gordon, Gannouth 93 

English County Anthology— Mr. D. M'Gregor Peter 
—The Name Bodie 94 

Henry Shanks— Byron and the Plain of Marathon- 
Sir James Horn Burnett's Challenge Bugle- 
Rhyme on Snuff —" Rosy-flngered Mom " 95 

A "ScoU Review " of 1774— The Murder of Two 
Sons of Gk>rdon of Ellon— "Esoonse"—Brompton 
Oratory Design— Fetterangus 96 

SOOTS Books of the Month 96 



ABERDEEN, DECEMBER, igo6. 



FORFARSHIRE AS A FACTOR IN 

SCOTTISH LIFE AND THOUGHT. 
f Continued from 2nd S., VIIL, p, 69. J 



Referring next to the military and naval nota- 
bilities belonging to this shire, I remark that of 
these my lists contain 49 names, many of them 
distinguished, among which, in addition to the 
great names of the Royalist leaders, the Marquis 
of Montrose and Viscount Dundee, may be 
mentioned Macbeth, the hero of one of Shake- 



speare's tragedies, whom recent historians repre- 
sent, not, as the poet describes, as a mere ambi- 
tious usurper, but as a true patriot and wise 
statesman. To these names I could add those 
of Gilchrist, the Earl of Angus, who defeated 
the English in 11 24 ; Sir Robert Pitilloch, who 
distinguished himself in France in 1460; David 
Barclay, who fought gallantly under Gustavus 
Adolphus in the German wars, as well as two 
Forfarshire Lindsays, also engaged in the same 
monarch's service. Nor must I omit Generals 
Ramsay and Wood, two excellent officers under 
the famous Duke of Marlborough ; General 
Sir David Leigh ton, an Indian officer of dis- 
tinction ; and General Sir Wm. Chalmers, who 
fought under Wellington in the Peninsula and 
at Waterloo with the utmost gallantry, and 
whQse name is still cherished in Dundee as one 
of the bravest and best of her sons. 

Among Forfarshire's distinguished naval men 
must be included the names notably of Admiral 
Charles Middleton, Viscount Barham, whose 
skilful and wise administration at the Admiralty 
during the French war did so much to render 
possible not only the great achievements of 
Nelson, but also of Admiral Viscount Duncan, 
the hero of Camperdown, as well as Admirals 
Sir lolm Lindsay and Sir George Carnegie, 
6tb Earl of Southesk. I could considerably 
extend the above list, but space fails me, and so 
I pass on next to treat of the notable lawyers 
on my lists. 

As lawyers, the men of Angus hold a 
good place among the other Scottish shires. 
I have at least 32 names of more or less merit 
under this head. I shall not allude to more 
than a few of the more distinguished. And, 
first, as to the judges of Angus birth. Two of 
these — ^James Ivory (Lord Ivory) and Adam 
Gillies (Lord Gillies) — were excellent representa- 
tives of our Scottish Court of Session ; while 
Thomas Scot, who was long Lord Chief Justice 
of Canada, and Dr. Samuel Johnstone, who was 
one of the Revolution leaders in the American 
rebellion and played a considerable part in 
framing the Constitution of the United States, 
and who subsequently became a prominent 
Federal Judge, as well as Sir William Nicoll, the 



82 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[December, 1906 



present Chief Justice in Lagos, West Africa, 
exhibit in u very interesting way the wide 
ranging activity and influence of the men of 
Angus. 

I believe, however, that it is more as scholars 
and teachers than as men of affairs or judges 
that the natives of this shire come before the 
notice of their fellows. My lists contain no 
fewer than 62 such names. They are, more- 
over, an illustrious group, extending from Patrick 
Panther, the scholarly Abbot of Cambuskenneth, 
to Professor Charles S. Roy, of Cambridge 
University, on the one hand, and Professor James 
A. Ewing, of Tokio University, Japan, on the 
other. Among their number are included names 
so illustrious as that of the great Greek scholar, 
Professor Richard C. Jebb, of Cambridge Uni- 
versity ; of Professor John P. Nichol, of Glasgow, 
as well as of his son, John, long Professor of 
English Literature in the same University ; of 
Professor Stephen Reay, of Cambridge, a famous 
Arabic scholar; of Professor John Playfair, of 
Edinburgh, the distinguished mathematician ; 
and, indeed, of many others equally excellent 
that I cannot fitid space to enumerate. 

Medical men also figure largely on my lists — 
I have the names of 41 such. Of these, how- 
ever, though many unnamed are equally or 
scarcely less distinguished, 1 will only specify 
five. These are Professor James Miller, of 
Edinburgh University, a great surgeon and an 
early advocate of total abstinence ; Professor 
William Sharpey, one of the most popular of 
London doctors ; Drs. Neill Arnott and Sir 
William Burnett, both famous London physicians, 
and both also successful scientific inventors ; and, 
last of all, Dr. George Webster, who has gained 
the thanks of the profession as founder of the 
British Medical Association. 

Even more important, perhaps, owing to the 
part they have played in developmg the resources 
and promoting the wealth of tneir country, have 
been the enterprising merchants and manu- 
facturers of this shire, who have not only created 
the prosperity of the towns of Angus, but 
have carried their enterprise elsewhere and built 
up great businesses and fortunes in almost every 
part of the world. Among the former are included 
not only such men as John Wallace, who intro- 
duced the linen manufacture into the shire, as 
well as the numerous representatives of the well- 
known Baxter, Cox, and Yeaman families, who, 
during the last century, have been so con- 
spicuously associated with the chief industries of 
Angus, but the names also of men like the late 
Provost Moncur, of Dundee, the Corsars and 
Salmonds of Arbroath, the Lairds and Lowsons 
ot Forfar, and many others equally deserving 



mention. Among the latter class, on the other 
hands are found names so notable as those of 

tohn Coutts, the founder of the London banking 
ouse that goes by his name ; of James Brown, 
too, an eminent engineer, who became the head 
of the well-known Birmingham firm of James 
Watt & Co. ; of Sir James Dick, also a suc- 
cessful merchant, who became Lord Mayor of 
London, as well as of John Ross Valentine, a 
millionaire banker in the United States; and 
Alexander Stephen, the founder of the great 
Glasgow firm of shipbuilders of that name. 

One thing that I notice particularly in con- 
nection with the practical energies of the natives 
of this region is their success as inventors. 
Thus, of the 20 persons grouped under this 
heading, the following exceptionally notable 
names appear: — (i) The Reverend Patrick Bell, 
the inventor of the reaping machine ; (2) James 
Hunter, the inventor of the stone-dressing 
machine, that has made the granite industry so 
great a success in Scotland ; (3) James Chalmers, 
the inventor of the adhesive stamp, by means of 
which the postal development of the world has 
been rendered so marvellously successful ; (4) 
James Brown Lindsay, the electrician, who first 
demonstrated the possibility of wireless tele- 
graphy ; (5) Alexander Shanks, who invented 
the lawn-mower ; (6) Charles Watson, the 
inventor of the double-current ventilator, 
but who was better known, perhaps, as the 
" Napoleon of tract distribution"; and (7), and 
finally, Dr. A. C. Kirk, whose triple-expansion 
steam engine alone made possible the amazing 
development in ocean steam navigation that 
characterised the closing years of the 19th 
century, though the new turbine system of 
propulsion seems on the point of taking its 
place. 

Then, among agricultural improvers, besides 
less notable names, I have that of John Nicoll, 
who raised the excellent variety of seed pota- 
toes that went by the name of ** Champion," as 
well as other popular varieties ; of Hugh 
Watson, too, the first breeder of the famous 
Angus " Doddies," that noted breed of cattle 
which, in the hands of the Aberdeen farmers, has 
now attained the foremost place in the London 
markets. 

1 have only to refer, in closing this review, to 
a list of 27 adventurous or eccentric characters 
and nondescripts of all kinds, belonging to this 
shire, which 1 have compiled. 

This is an unusually large number of such 
names, but not more numerous than might have 
been expected owing to the marked individuality 
of mental character manifested by the natives 
of this region. Perhaps the most notable of the 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



83 



27 are the following :—(i) Alexander Lindsay, the 
tyrant Earl of Crawford, who, for his enormities, 
was known as " the Tiger Earl," or " Earl 
Beardie"; (2) David Lindsay, the 12th Earl 
of Crawford, who was called "the Prodigal 
Earl " ; (3) General Connon, who became a 
pacha and a Turkish General in the Crimean 
War ; (4) Old Horatio Ross, the famous deer- 
stalker and rifle-shot, whose son, Edward Ross, 
was the first to win the Queen's Prize at 
Wimbledon, in i860, thus giving a foretaste, 
at the very start of that competition, of the 
striking superiority which Scottish volunteers 
were to manifest in subsequent years over all 
other British volunteers in the accomplishment 
of rifle-shooting. I may add here that another 
Forfarshire volunteer who has carried off that 
much coveted prize was Sergeant David Dear, 
of Friockheim. I have also two centenarians 
on my list, which points to the hardy and 
vigorous physical constitution enjoyed by the 
inhabitants of this district. 

I have thus reviewed and set forth in my 
usual manner, though, I fear, less carefully than 
in some previous essays, the part which my 
investigations show the county of Forfar to 
have taken in the development of our national 
life and influence. And I think that one con- 
clusion to which all must have been led by the 
facts adduced, is that the people of Angus are 
characterised by at least as high intellectual and 
moral qualities as those of any other Scottish 
shire. I am well aware that rumours to an 
opposite effect are sometimes heard, some of 
which have received the sanction of high names. 
Thus, I think, I have heard the town of Forfar 
spoken of as " godless Forfar,'* and even as 
" Satan's seat," while I have certainly read 
the following comment on that town, made by 
the saintly evangelist McCheyne immediately 
after preaching in it — a comment which is cer- 
tainly scathing enough — " Fearfully wicked 
place. The cry of it ascends up before God 
like that of Sodom." Similarly disparaging 
remarks I have heard regarding even "the 
Scottish Geneva" itself, the city so illustrious for 
its religious zeal in Reformation times, and 
which — by the ministry of the godly Willison in 
the 1 8th century, and the saintly McCheyne and 
William Bums in the 19th century, as well as of 
many other equally devoted and pious, spiritual 
teachers — might have been expected to possess a 
character beyond the reach of reproach or 
scandal. Saturday night there I have heard 
spoken of as a veritable pandemonium — a perfect 
saturnalia of wickedness. While that other 
Angus parishes have not been without their 
aspersers, even within the bounds of the county 



of Forfar itself, may be inferred, I think, from 
the following local descriptive couplet, which 
used to be and, perhaps, still is current in the 
neighbourhood of the parishes which are there 
emphatically characterised as 

** Theivin' Glenisla, Leein' Lintrathen," 
Cursin' Kingowdrum and Kind Kirriemuir. 
It is pleasing to find that at least one parish in 
four can have a good word said for it by the 
local poet. But while it would appear that 
common report is somewhat hard on the moral 
and religious state of Forfarshire, I am glad to say 
that a recent official volume, entitled " The Judi- 
cial Statistics of Scotland," has cast a new light 
on the questions in controversy, and seems to 
suggest that once again the vox populi is very 
far indeed from being the vox veriiatis. Thus, 
in regard to the alleged pre-eminent intemper- 
ance of Dundee, the facts brought out in the 
volume referred to seem to show that, with the ex- 
ception of Aberdeen, the natives of that town are 
really more temperate in their habits than those 
of any other large town in Scotland. Of 
every 10,000 of the population of Aberdeen, it 
was found, when the statistics I am quoting were 
compiled, that 207.5 were convicted of offences 
arising out of drunkenness^ while in other towns 
the figures (discarding decimals) were — Dundee 
223, Edinburgh 325, Leith 339, Paisley 339 
Govan 432, Greenock 564, Glasgow 604. 

Thus the whole East Coast, Leith included 
shines out in eminent respectability ; and if you 
want genuine, disgraceful putrescence, you must 
go to the abandoned cities on the Clyde ! The 
same deplorable effects of the West Coast social 
habits continue to show themselves in the towns 
of the second class — those with a population of 
from 20,000 to 50,00a In this category Arbroath 
stands triumphantly at the top, and no other 
town makes a good second. In this home of 
puritanical sobriety the convictions per 10,000 
were 143, next best — and a long way off— being 
Dunfermline with 237. In Ayr the number was 
571, and in Hamilton 559. Perth keeps within 
the region of moderate respectability with 300. 
But the great surprise of all awaits us when we 
look into the case of the burghs with a popula- 
tion of from 10,000 to 20,000. There are 18 of 
them, and, of all places on the earth, Forfar 
heads the list ! Forfar the maligned — the last 
word of the comparative Jeremiah ! Its record 
of drunkenness per 10,000 was 69, as compared 
with 808 in Falkirk, which appears to be the 
most drunken place in Scotland ; and 505 in 
Dumbarton, which is quite a westcoastish 
figure. Montrose is 131, Brechin 109, Broughty 
Ferry 99, and St. Andrews no. It is interesting 
also to take a glince at the counties in this 



rtrnm 



84 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[December, 1906 



connection. The prevalent notion that real, 
sustained, resolute drinking^ has its home in the 
Highlands is not confirmed by these statistics. 
Thus, Orkney and Shetland head the list in the 
order of virtue, and Inverness and Sutherland 
come in the first half-dozen ; but Forfar is 
3rd, being thus at the head of the counties on 
the Scottish mainland. Aberdeen is 5th and 
Fife 1 8th, Perth one place worse, but Kincardine 
borders on decency m the nth place. Though, 
generally, the West Coast counties are just as 
bad as one would expect counties to be which 
contain such terribly abandoned towns, curiously 
enough the coastless Peebles is the worst of the 
whole 33, which indicates that even in these 
days it struggles in a hectic and bibulous way to 
sustain its reputation — " Peebles for pleasure." 

I do not pretend to be able to explain the 
hidden cause that seems to be at work making 
the East Coast of Scotland comparatively a 
soberer region than the West, but if " Philip 
sober " may be rightly expected to judge more 
wisely than " Philip drunk," then it is, perhaps, 
a confirmation of the statistics that I have 
quoted, that when the whole West of Scotland 
a few years ago declined to Imperialism, the 
East of Scotland generally, but pre-eminently 
the three sober counties of Forfar, Aberdeen, 
and Kincardine, kept the flag of Liberalism 
flying, and proved a sort of Gibraltar, or quadri- 
lateral, impregnable to all the assaults of the 
party whose astounding watchword of ** Beer, 
the Bible, and the British Empire," had been 
too successful in the rest of the country. 

It is, at all events, a comforting reflection to 
me that I fell upon these statistics while writing 
the present essay, as they tend to confirm the 
conclusion, which on other grounds I had already 
formed, viz., that the type of man produced in 
Forfar was one marked by strong powers of 
self-control and capable of as high achieve- 
ments, intellectually and spiritually, as those of 
any other region ot Scotland, with the exception, 
possibly, of the Scottish Border. 

W. B. R. W. 
To he continued. 



Traditions Relating to the Lawrance 
Family : — Mr. R, Johnston Robertson may 
be glad to have the undernoted particulars 
which I append for preservation : — Mr. J. D. 
Lawrance, 3 Johnson's Buildings, Temple, E.C., 
writes on i8th May, 1904: — "We. have no 
tradition of having come from Scotland. 
Lawr^mces have undoubtedly been settled at 
Dunsby and Haconby, in the county of Lincoln, 
for some 200 or 300 years (see parish registers, 



tombs, etc.). Beyond that, I have no infor- 
mation of a definite character. A shadowy 
tradition says they came from Gloucestershire, 
but personally I believe that to be pure surmise." 
The Rev. Robert Lawrance, B. A., M. A., 
Hollesley Rectory, Woodbridge, Suffolk, writes, 
August 23rd, 1904: — "My family is in no way 
connected with Scotland. There is no doubt 
the spelling Lawrence is more common than 
ours, but I have not heard of any tradition of 
their being sprung from France. All I 
know of them is that they lived in the 
southern counties — chiefly in Hants." The Rev. 
Henry Lawrance, 195 Legrams Lane, Bradford, 
mentions, on May 19th, 1904, that his father's 
family has been settled in Yorkshire for several 
generations — much more he cannot say. They 
were a yeoman family. He has often thought of 
pursuing the enquiry by means of parish 
registers, etc., but the chance has never come. 
This gentleman also says that his ancestors are 
traditionally supposed to be connected ^ith 
Lawrences of Dunsby, South Lincolnshire, of 
whom is the Judge. He is owner of a fine book- 
plate on which is portrayed a knight in armour. 
Any other notes bearing upon the distribution of 
Lawrences and Lawrences will be highly appre- 
ciated and preserved in our columns for refer- 
ence to students of family history. 

Robert Murdoch. . 

Northern Fencibles.— I have the original 
commission of my great-uncle, Francis Stewart 
of Lesmurdie, as ensign in " Our Regiment of 
Fencible Men, commanded by Our Right Trusty 
and Right entirely beloved Cousin, Colonel 
Alexander, Duke of Gordon, K.T., and to take 
rank in Our .^rmy during the establishment of 
the said Regiment," etc., etc. The document is 
signed by King George III., on the 19th January, 
1780, and countersigned by Lord Hillsborough. 
These Fencibles were neither Militia nor Volun- 
teers, but regular regiments raised for home 
defence only. Their officers were appointed by 
purchase — an ensigncy costing, I think, j^45o. 
Francis Stewart was afterwards in the 79th 
Cameron Highlanders (raised 1793), and eventu- 
ally, after long service, commanded the troops 
in Ceylon. He died in 1824. 

Arch. Leslie 

Of Klnfnvle. 

Aberdeen - American Graduates. — Dr. 
Gammack errs in naming No. 145 (October, 
1906) John Herald. It should have been James. 
The place of death is given as " Meieine Hat." 
Should it not be " Medicine Hat"? 

J. D. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



85 



The Gordons of Minmore.— The Rev. 
Stephen Ree makes some additions to the ac- 
count of the Minmore Gordons which appeared 
in the Huntly Express of June i, 1906 : — 

1674, September 20. — John Leslie, having bor- 
rowed the mortcloth to Minimoir, and not being a 
parishoner, did promise to pay a rex dolor. — 
(Mortlach Session Register.) 

This seems to indicate that William I. of Min- 
more died two years before his grandson got 
sasine. The " John Leslie " is probably the John 
Leslie of Parkbeg (which is in Mortlach) who 
married Isobel, daughter of William I. of Min- 
more. 

1683, May I. — Helen Grant, eldest lawful daugh- 
ter of Robert Grant of Tombreackachie, got sasine 
in liferent on Minimoir. — (Banffshire Sasines.) 

Perhaps she was the future spouse of Ludovick 
Gordon of Minmore, about whom very little is 
known. 

Alexander Sinclair Gordon, Volun- 
teer Enthusiast. — He was the son of Charles 
Gordon, the twelfth laird of Abergeldie. A very 
interesting reference to him — which seems to 
have escaped the notice of local genealogists — 
occurs in Henry Angelo's "Reminiscences" (I., 

438-9) :— 

During a certain period of the latter part of the 
late war, whilst the City Light Horse were on effec- 
tive duty, they had two messes — one held at the 
Crown and Anchor, the other at the British Coffee- 
house. Doubtless the tables of such a corps were 
well served ; and the conviviality, which was usually 
protracted to a late hour by some of its gay members, 
was such as no military society that I have known 
could match. It must be remembered that, the mess 
being in the midst of the metropolis, there was a 
notable sample of choice spirits within reach from 
which to fill a spare seat. The adjutant—** Sandy " 
Gordon, as he was familiarly called by his comrades 
— was a joyous convive. Certain Scottish songs, 
which he sang with peculiar nationality, were de- 
lectable to hear ; the delight which they afforded to 
loyal sons of Scotland (a good sprinkling of whom 
rode in this wealthy corps), when they were elevated 
to the pitch of the second bottle of claret, was truly 
elevating to behold. 

The Character of the Cabrach.— Cattle- 
lifting seems to have been more common in the 
Cabrach than in most parts of the surrounding 
country. Thus, Alexander Gordon, in Kirktoun 
of Cabrach, was tried at Aberdeen (see Journal 
of May 9, 1768) in May, 1768, for having stolen, 
about six years previously, two cattle, and for 
opening a house by means of false keys and 
stealing ten bolls of meal. After a trial of nine 
hours he was acquitted of the cattle-lifting but 



found guilty of taking the meal and being 
"habit and repute a thief." He was sentenced 
to be whipped and banished to the plantations 
for life. So he was whipped on May 21 and 
deported July 23, 1768. On April 12, 1769, 
James Gordon, from- the Cabrach, was com- 
mitted to prison for horse-stealing {Aberdeen 
Journal^ April 27, 1769). 

Alexander Family. — Mr. Herbert Railton, 
the well-known artist, tells me that his grand- 
father — Dr. Alexander, Preston — was an Aber- 
donian. I take him to have been John Alex- 
ander, Halifax, who got his M.D. at Marischal 
College in 1782. At anyrate, Dr. Alexander, 
Preston, had 

1 John Lyon Alexander, engineer, Delahay Street, 
London, who had 

Edward Alexander, I.C.S. 
Charles Alexander, indigo merchant. 
Cuthbert Alexander. 
Arthur Alexander. 

2 Edwin Alexander, patent agent. 

3 Elizabeth Ann Alexander : married — Railton, 
and was the mother of Mr. Herbert Railton. 

4 — Alexander, abbess, Loretto Convent, Kil- 
larney. 

J. M. B. 

Leyden's Poems.— In my article in the Octo- 
ber number on "Some of Dr. John Leyden's 
Inedited Poems," I thought the printer's blunder 
in the second line of both versions of the sonnet 
on "Sabbath Morning'' was so obvious that I 
did not think it necessary to point it out. 
However, Mr. Alan Reid has evidently not 
noticed it. "Waxes" should, of course, be 
"wakes," and the line read, "That slowly wakes 
while all the fields are still ! " 

Hassendean, James Sinton. 

Eastfield, Joppa. 

Still Room (2nd S., VIII., 45, 54, 68).— On 
reading over the articles defining what a still 
room was used for, I am of the same opinion as 
Dr. Milne. On being shown over a large 
mansion house the other day, the housekeeper 
showed us the still room. I at once asked her 
what it was used for, and she promptly replied 
that it was used for " distilling herbs," and other 
duties connected with the kitchen. When mak- 
ing plans for a new house, that room is generally 
called the " stillroom maid's room." On looking 
up Chambers's " Dictionary of the English 
Language," published in 1872, I find it is called 
"an apartment for distilling." This, I conclude, 
is the correct meaning of the word. 



Aberlady. 



J. J. W. Lamb. 



86 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[December, 1906 



THE SURTEES BALLAD FRAUDS. 



I do not think that it is so well known in 
Scotland as it is in the North of England that 
all the ballads furnished by Robert Surtees, Esq. 
of Mainsforth, County Durham, to Scott's 
"Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border" were 
pseudo-antiques, actually fabricated by that 
gentleman, and forwarded to Sir Walter as 
genuine, with such attestations as " taken down 
from the recitation of a woman, 80 years of age, 
living on Alston Moor"; "recited by an old 
woman who weeded in his garden"; "written down 
from the recitation of Rose Smith, a woman 
aged upwards of 91, whose husband, father, and 
brothers were killed in the affair of 171 5." The 
ballads and testimony were alike manufactured 
by Surtees. One feels somewhat nonplussed 
how to rightly characterise such deception. 
Lauder, Ireland, and Chatterton were violently 
stigmatised for their forgeries, but then, what 
was detestable conduct on the part of a needy 
adventurer in the republic of letters became 
merely a bit of harmless waggery when done 
by an accomplished country gentleman. Of 
course the fraud remains all the same. Surtees 
is known in literature as the author of four 
portly volumes, folio, "History and Antiquities 
of the County Palatine of Durham,*' the first 
of which appeared in 1816. The Surtees Society, 
named in honour of him, have already pub- 
lished over 100 volumes illustrative of the north- 
east of England. It may be readily believed 
that Scott and Surtees became friendly at once 
and corresponded regularly. Scott never dreamt 
that any fraud was practised upon him in the 
matter of the ballads, nor did his biographer 
Lockhart ; and it was only after the death of 
Surtees, in February, 1834, that the story leaked 
out, and was made public property. Fraser's 
Magasitte had an exhaustive article on the 
subject 

Many years ago I resided for some time in 
the city of Durham, and I was soon informed, 
with a great deal of jubilant cackle, how "Bobby 
Surtees had taken in thy countryman, Scott, with 
a parcel of au'd ballats made cop by himseP." 
I disputed this, and said, if true, it was at the 
expense of Surtee's veracity. I was shown 
Vol. VII. of Moses A. Richardson's "Borderer's 
Table Book,'' where the forgeries were described, 
and, latei on, I was lent the " Life of Surtees " 
(1852), written by George Taylor, and improved 
by the Rev. James Raine, secretary of the 
Surtees Society, forming Vol. XXIV. of the 
Societ/s publications. It includes poems and 
correspondence, the forged ballads receiving 
primary consideration as the most successful 



products of his muse. I will specify the forgeries 
briefly : — 

1. Death of Featherstonhaugh. — A 
rough rhyme, the last verse a bit of brutal 
realism which ought to be castrated. Sir Walter 
actually introduced part of it in the text of 
"Marmion" (1808) as having been sung by a 
harper in Norham Castle. " Haud their jaw" 
is a colliery jargon, and should have awakened 
suspicion, but it did not. He relied on his cor- 
respondent's sincerity. 

2. Lord Ewrie. — Fair imitation of the elder 
ballad. The hero. Sir Ralph Evers, or Ivoors, 
got his gruel at Ancrum Moor, 1546, and is 
buried in Melrose Abbey. 

3. Barthram's Dirge.— Very artfully con- 
cocted, moderinizations alternating with ancient 
words. Aytoun injudiciously admitted it into 
his "Ballads of Scotland," 2nd vol., 1858, qualify- 
ing the admission by stating that it was a 
Northumbrian ditty, whereas it was a Durham 
one, A learned Theban on legendary loie dis- 
coursed in the Melbourne Argus on the modern 
tinge of the emendations in this ballad as con- 
trasted with the olden portion, but I do not 
think that he was grateful to me for telling him 
that it was all written by Surtees, and the 
bracketed interpolations simply put in as a 
decoy, and apparently as effective a trap now 
as it was eighty years ago. There are ten verses 
in Surtees' poems, but the two additional ones 
are unimportant. 

4. Sir John le Spring.— Good imitation 
of the elder ballad, contributed to Sir Cuthbert 
Sharp's "Bishopric Garland." Sir Jol.n was 
murdered in the arms of his Icman in 131 1 
at Houghton-le-Spring, a village in County 
Durham, memorable for the ministry there of 
Bernard Gilpin, "the Apostle of the North." 

5. Derwentwater's Farewell.— Six 
verses, frequently printed as a veritable product 
of 171 5. It is the best of Surtec'^ L.iUads. 
Being too late for inclusion in the " Minstrelsy 
of the Scottish Border," it was sent to the El trick 
Shepherd for insertion in his "Jacobite Relics." 
In Surtee's correspondence, there is a letter 
from Hogg thanking the English squire for his 
courtesy, and likewise informing him that his 
(Surtees') was the only order received from 
England for his poems. Curious commentary 
that on the boasted liberality of Englishmen. 

6. The Wounded Knight. — This was 
found amongst the papers of Surtees, and pre- 
sumed to be his handiwork, but it was in reality 
written by John Finlay, a college friend of 
Campbell, Grahame, and Prof Wilson, who 
died early in 18 10. As it is short and not well 
known, I will finish my notes with it : — 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



87 



A knight there came from the field of the slain, 
His steed was drenchM with the falling rain ; 
He rode to the forest to rest his head, 
Till day should dawn on his grassy bed. 

But his wounds bled fast, and his courser fell 
Ere he reached the brook in the forest dell ; 
His shield hung low, and the moon's wan beam 
Shone sad and soft on the murmuring stream. 

He could not wind his bugle horn. 
And he died at the brook ere early morn. 
Pray for the soul of the knight who fell 
At the mossy brook in the forest dell. 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



THE WELLS OF ABERDEEN. 



In the Bodleian Library is preserved the only 
extant copy of a two-leaved Latin-English tract: 
" Tituli Fontium Abredonensium : the Titles of 
Aberdeen's Wells. ... In the year of Our 
Lord 1707" (no place or printer's name). 

Through the courtesy of Mr. F. Madan', I 
have obtained a transcript of the tract, the 
English portion of which seems to merit a place 
in Scottish Notes and Queries. It will be seen 
that two centuries ago, as now, the supply of 
pure water to the citizens of Aberdeen was a 
problem calling for the attention of the "Fathers 
of the City." 

The writer, John Alexander, appears as a 
Bajan at Marischal College in 1688. How many 
of his eight wells can now be identified ? 

The tract is dedicated : — 

To The Right Honourable 

Mr. John Gordon Lord Provost, 

(lohn Ross "I 

Thomas Strachan I r» -r 
lames Catanach f^ailies 
George Cruickshank j 
Mr. lohn Dowglas Dean of Gild. 
Mr. lames Morison Thesaurer. 

And Remnant Members of the Honourable 
Councill of Aberdeen. 

Right Honourable 

That great Physician Cardan, being brought from 
his native Countrey Italie into | Scotland, to re- 
cover the health of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews, 
whom I having cur'd, and being mov'd by the 
great Fame of the City and Universitie of | Aber- 
deen, he gladly visited this Your City, the chief of 
the North of Scotland and | residence of the 
Muses. Where (as the custom of Physicians is) 
having considered the | temperature of the Air, 
the nature of the Soile and waters, he highly com- 
mended I for ordinar use and drinking the neigh- 



bouring Springs, which to this day from his | 
Name are called Cardans, | 

The which Your Honours, truely Fathers of 
the City, leaning to the authority of | so great a 
Physician, and consulting the good of Your Citizens 
in their Aqueducts imi- | tating the magnificence 
of the Roman Emperours, are at present conveying 
into Your | City. Thus you have [sic] undertaken 
a work truely great, such as no Magistrats Your | 
Predecessors ever dar*d to attempt, and which 
Posterity shall ever praise. | 

May it then please Your Honours to allow Your 
Citizen, tho a Physician of the | lowest degree, to 
approve the great Physician Cardan's opinion of 
Your Wells, by | adorning them with proper Titles 
to You Dedicat, and to add these lines. 

A Doctor did these Fontains healthfuU tr>% 
Them doth a Doctor, with Verse beautify: 
Accept grave Senators these Verse I give, 
Of thankfull Minde, pledge to you while I live. 

Your Honours most humble Serviteur, 

lohn Alexander. 
The English verses are as under : — 
i. Of the Well in the Marcat Place, 

To the great good of the Citizens and Cities orna- 
ment, Cardans healthful! Streams, with great 
Travell, at last are hither happily conveyed. 

For 'twas a work of so great importance 
Cardans healthfull Streams, hither to advance. 
And as these Waters, ever healthfull flow, 
May these Mens Fame, remain and ever grow. 

ii. Of the Well in the Broad-gate. 

On Neighbouring Well Cardan did praise bestow; 
Hither convey'd may't ever healthfull flow. 

iii. Of the Well at the Colledge. 

From Helicon, a Muse doth here retyre. 
With its pure Streams, which Citizens inspyre. 

iv. Of the Well in the Gallow-gate. 

Cardans healthfull Streams, Aberdeen here enter. 
May they ever run, as heavens around their Center. 

V. Of the Well in the Upper Kirk-gate. 

As blood from heart, by veins doth e're return. 
From Sea, through Earth so fresh these waters run. 

vi. Of the Well in the Neathcr Kirk gate. 

Cardans Well runs here, tho it undermine, 
The Town not hurts, hut's usefull at all time. 

vii. Of the Well in the Green. 

Cardans healthful Streams also here do flow. 
On Citizens, great good so to bestow. 

viii. Of the Well at the Shoar, 

The Town now water'd, Cardans Nymph doth run, 
To Gea, through Earth, to source sweet to return. 



■■ V 1" 



^P" 



• V I 



88 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[Dfx:embrr, 1906 



The tract concludes with the earliest known 
product of the muse of William Meston, then an 
under master in the Grammar School : — 

In Titulos Fontium Abredonensium 
Ogsioastichon 

Hos fontes Medicus quondam laudaverat unus ; 

Has nitidas, Medicuss [sic] jam canit alter aquas: 
I lie salutiferas, membris languentibus undas 

Comperit, et primus nomina fecit aquis. * 
Ctvibus Hie nostris aptas, morbisque levandis 

Usibus et variis, carmine laudat aquas 
Decurrunt lympha;, Cardani nomine clarx, 

Fons et Alexandri carmine clarus erit. 

Canebat Gulielmus Meston 
£x ScholsD AbredonanoD Praeceptoribus unus, 

Thus English'd, 

One Doctor did ot old, these Fountaius [sic] praise. 
An other now by's lines, their worth doth raise. 
The first, them healthfull try'd, first gave their 

name: 
The second hath by verse, first prais*d their stream. 
By great Cardanus name, famous these waters How; 
By Alexanders verse, their fame shall ever grow. 

P. J. Anderson. 



FoRFARSHlRK. — In regard to Mr. Reid's 
humorous complaint of my misnaming him and 
misrepresenting his present place of abode, I 
can only humbly apologise for my carelessness. 
Had I taken the trouble to consult my own note- 
books, I need not and ought not to have blun- 
dered as I did. For I find Mr. Reid duly credited 
there to his native town of Arbroath, and I 
have also a satisfactory sketch of his career as 
teacher and author in Edinburgh. Unfortun- 
ately, however, when I was rewriting for Scottish 
Notes and Queries an old lecture on Forfarshire, 
as my memory failed me in regard to the exact 
name of the author whose anthology I wished 
to commend, and as the book in question was 
no longer in my hands, I appealed to a literary 
friend, a valued contributor to this journal, to 
resolve my difficulties. He replied, "The name 
of the author you want is Alan Stewart Bell 
Reid, F.E.I.S." I searched no further, and 
having rashly and wrongly concluded, without 
any evidence, that my Mr. Reid was living in 
Dundee, and not wishing to burden my paper 
with the lengthened patronymic which Mr. Reid, 
like myself, is entitled to wear, I dropped two 
of his names and retained the other two that 
seemed to me most euphonious and pleasing. 
I have explained my error. I do not exculpate 
myself, and I present Mr. Reid a thousand 
apologies. W. B. R. W. 

Dollar. 



Forfarshire as a Factor in Scottish 
Life and Thought. — In the interesting intro- 
duction to the above by VV. B. R. W., I venture 
to submit that a mistake has been made in 
regard to George Paul Chalmers. There he is 
stated to be "of Arbroath"; but the following 
notice of him will be found in Chambers's "Bio- 
graphical Dictionary" — "The Great of all Times 
and Nations" — edited by David Patrick, LL.D., 
and Francis Hindcs Groome, 1899 : — 

Chalmers, George Paul, R.S.A., was born at 
Montrose in 1833 ; served as errand boy to a 
surgeon, and apprentice to a ship chandler; but 
in 1853 came to Edinburgh, and studied art under 
Scott Lauder. Elected R.S.A. in 1871, he died 
from accidental injuries 20th February, 1878. He 
executed some important portraits. He is re- 
presented in the National Gallery of Scotland by 
" The Legend." See his ** Lives" by J. M. Gray 
(1879) and Pinnington (i8g6). 

I may add that I was told, some years ago, that 
one of his first productions, done while he was 
serving his apprenticeship as a ship chandler, 
was then in the possession of representatives of 
the ship chandler referred to. 



Goodly bum, Perth. 



J. E. Leighton. 



Stone Coffin found at Leslie. —On 
Tuesday, November 13, when a man was 
ploughing on Mains of Leslie, the plough struck 
a stone, which proved to be a Correen slab of 
knotted schist, 3 in. thick, covering a stone 
cofiin. On removing the lid the coffin was 
found to be 3 ft. 6 in. long, 2 ft. 6 in. wide, and 
I ft. 9 in. deep. The sides and ends were 
formed of slabs set on ed^^e. The bottom was 
paved with small stones, quite black, covered with 
a layer of fine soft clay. In the cof!in there was 
a large human skeleton, supposed to be that of 
a man. Ths skull and other bones were in a won- 
derfully good state of preservation, but the legs 
seemed to have been detached from the body at 
the thighs and laid alongside of it. At the left 
side of the head there was an urn measuring 5^ 
in. across at the mouth, 3 in. at the bottom, and 
9 in. deep, but, being imperfectly burned, it had 
fallen down in fragments. It contained only a 
little mould. It had been ornamented with 
markings made, probably with a pointed stick, 
when it was in a soft state. It would be inter- 
esting to know whether the legs had been de- 
tached before interment, or if the body had been 
laid in the short grave with the knees bent up, 
and if the legs had afterwards separated from 
the body and had straightened out after decay 
of the flesh and ligaments. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



89 



ABERDONIANS ABROAD: 
HENRY FARQUHARSON. 

(Ut S.,IX., 35, 87, 145, 161; XII., 116; 2nd S., 

K., 7 J 

In the Supplement to the " Biographie Uni- 
verselle" issued in 1837, vol. lxiii.,p. 550, appears 
the following notice : — 

Farwharson, professeur de mathematiques, 
&'est illustre en prenant une part active et impor- 
tante aux creations de Pierre-le- Grand. En 1698, 
il professait les mathematiques k Puniversit^ d' Aber- 
deen, lorsque le czar vint visiter Londres. Le 
prince, qui avait appris a le connaStre, Pen- 
gagea a son service, et le conduisit k Moscou, ou 
Farwharson fonda en 1701 une icole de marine, la 
premiere que Ton ait connue en Russie. Cette 
ecole fut ensuite subordonn^e k Tacad^mie de 
marine fondee k Saint- Petersbourg en 17 15. L'in- 
tendance g^n^rale de cette academic fut confiee au 
comte F^odor Apraxin. Le baron Saint-Hilaire, 
lieutenant-gdn^ral au service de France, en fut 
nomm^ directeur. Farwharson y fut appel^, en 
17 16, pour professeur les mathematiques. L'^cole 
de marine quMl avait fond^ k Moscou y subsista 
jusqu'en 1752, ^poque ou les professeurs et les 
eleves furent transf^r^s k Saint- Petersbourg. Goli- 
kof pense que Farwharson a introduit chez les 
Russes Tusage des chifTres arabes. Cela parait 
d*autant plus probable que, d'apres des actes 
authentiques qui remontent jus^u*ii Tan 1715, les 
Russes, dans le calcul, ne s^^taient servis jusqu* 
alors que des caracteres slavons. Depuis 17 16 
Farwharson resta jusqu'i sa mort attache k Tacad^- 
mie de marine, en qualitd de professeur de mathe- 
matiques. En 1737, il fut eieve au rang de briga- 
dier dans Tarmee russe. 11 mourut au mois de 
decembre, 1739. 

Through the courtesy of Mr. William Sharpe 
Wilson (M.A., Abd.), lecturer on English in the 
University of St. Petersburg, I have been enabled 
to identify the subject of this notice with Hary 
Farquharson, who entered Marischal College 
with a Milne bursary in 1691 ("Fasti Acad. 
Marisc./' i., 267), and after graduation appears 
to have held for a short time the Liddell mathe- 
matical tutorship in the college. Mr. Wilson 
has favoured me with translations of references 
to Farquharson in Russian books : — 

Henry Farquharson occupies a distinguished 
place in the history of the foundation of our fleet. 
A Briton by birth and a graduate of Aberdeen 
University, he was taken into the Russian service 
by Peter when he visited England in 1698, and 
received two assistants, graduates of Christ 
Church, Oxford, Stephen Gwyn and Richard Gries. 
He was the first professor of mathematics and 
navigation in Russia^ and during forty years the 



chief instructor of our naval men. A man of 
great learning, knowing the Russian, Latin, Eng- 
lish, French, German, and Dutch languages; he 
was a very hard worker, and did yeoman service 
in the organisation of our fleet He wrote many 
books on mathematics and navigation, and trans- 
lated many others into Russian. He also prepared 
a map of the Caspian Sea, etc. , on behalf of the 
Admiralty Court. 

The Admiralty Court, in recommending to the 
Empress Anna loannovna Farquharson*8 promo- 
tion to the rank of brigadier, wrote as follows in 
their youmal. No. 945, on 8th March, 1737 : — 

*' For his distinguished services on behalf of the 
Empire, although no petition for promotion in 
rank has been presented by him, he is worthy of 
this reward, inasmuch as the study of m'Sthematics 
was first introduced into Russia by him, and there 
is hardly a single Russian subject in the fleet of 
Her Imperial Majesty, from the highest to the 
lowest, but has been taught navigation by him. " 

Farquharson remained at the Moscow School of 
Navigation until 17 16, and from that date until 
his death, which took place in 1739, he was at the 
St Petersburg Naval Academy. His library, 
which consisted of 600 books, chiefly on mathe- 
matics and navigation, in half-a-dozen different 
languages, was principally bought by the Naval 
Academy, and the proceeds of these, together 
with the remaining volumes, was handed to his 
heir, William Alexander, in Scotland, a nephew 
according to some, a cousin according to other 
accounts. 

{Article by A, Skoloffin the '*Morskoj Sbornik,'* 
or '* Naval Magazine" for Dec, 1856.) 

In F. Veceolavo's " History of the Naval 
Cadet Corps" (St Petersburg, 1852), there is 
pointed out the great difference between Far- 
quharson and many other foreigners in two re- 
spects, firstly, his superior talents, and secondly, 
his modest behaviour. The reward of £s^ 
promised him for every pupil completely trained 
m nautical studies seems never to have been 
paid, and the apartment in Moscow assigned at 
first to this distinguished professor appears to 
have been of the most modest kind, consisting 
only of a scantily furnished room, which he 
shared with his two assistants from Oxford. 

At the recent University Quatercentenary 
celebrations. Professor ScheviakofT, the spokes- 
man of the Russian delegates, referred in ap- 
preciative terms to the service Aberdeen had 
rendered to Russia through the agency of Far- 
quharson. 

Mr. Kellas Johnstone conjectures from the 
pre-name, Hary or Henry, that Farquharson 
was a cadet of the house of AUargue. (*' Studies 
in the History of the University/' p. 355.) 

P. J. Anderson. 



90 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[December, 1906 



THE ARMS OF THE CITY OF 
ABERDEEN. 



Heraldry is a feudal institution originating in 
the necessity of a leader of soldiers having some 
means of letting his followers know him when 
cased up in close armour. This was done by 
making marks of different shapes and colours 
upon his shield. As the shield is wider at the 
top than the bottom, it was a custom to put the 
mark three times on the shield, twice near the 
top and once lower down. A leader who had 
many men under him had an official who wore 
a short-sleeved coat, like a chemise, above his 
armour ; and this coat had the mark on the 
breast, twice near the shoulders and once lower 
down. Hence, three came to be counted the 
number of perfection in heraldry. 

There is no sign of heraldic markings in the 
Bayeux tapestry, a roll of linen an eighth of a 
mile long, depicting the history of the Norman 
Conquest in 1066 ; none in representations of 
events in the First Crusade (1095); but heraldry 
had come into use before the Second (1146). 
It began in Scotland when the sovereign gave 
land to vassals to be held in return for military 
service, say, in the reign of Alexander I. (1107- 
II 24). Aberdeen is by all admitted to have 
been made a burgh by David 1. (i 124- 11 53); 
and a burgh was treated as a vassal, and bound 
to furnish men for the national service at the 
summons of the sovereign. A burgh, like any 
landholder, was also bound, if the sovereign so 
commanded, to build and man a castle or tower 
of defence. There need be no doubt that a 
place of this sort had been built at Aberdeen 
very soon after it was made a burgh, though it 
is not recorded in the early history of the town. 
The soldiers had been provided with shields 
and other armour at the expense of the town, 
and the shield belonging to the provost, and 
perhaps every shield, had been marked with a 
device selected by the town council. There 
was no need to invoke the crown to assist in 
the ceremony of determining what was to be the 
armorial mark of Aberdeen. There is no evi- 
dence that the crown interfered in any heraldic 
matter before 1592, though it is on record that 
Robert I., as judge, settled a dispute in his 
presence regarding arms. So long as the 
vassals agreed among themselves, the crown 
seems to have let them alone. In that year, an 
Act of the Scotch Parliament was passed for 
the registration of all arms or heraldic marks 
then in use. Another, more stringent, was 
passed in 1672, and since then no person can 
acquire any right to a coat of arms not registered 



then but by applying to the sovereign's heraldic 
officer and getting it approved and registered 
by him. Up to 1672, any person could assume 
arms at his own hand if he did not trench on 
the rights of others. 

The arms or mark selected by any vassal was 
also car\'ed on his seal, and hence it is from 
ancient burgh seals that we learn anything 
about the original arms of Aberdeen. An old 
seal, in use by the burgh of Aberdeen in 1440, is 
figured in Gordon's "Description of both Towns 
of Aberdeen." It shows a tower with a pro- 
jecting walk and a battlement round the top, 
where armed men could stand and defend the 
tower ; and a short tower, also having a walk 
and battlement, rising out of the top of the other. 
This mark had been originally selected by 
Aberdeen because it had a fortified place, and 
was therefore better than some other towns 
which had not a castle. Only one double tower 
is shown on the seal, but on a shield there would 
have been two above and one below. 

In 1673 ^ Convention Act was passed by 
which all burghs were ordered to register arms. 
Some may have had arms before, some not ; 
but that is of no importance. The Lord Lyon, 
the heraldic officer, would have registered any 
arms old or new presented to him, provided the 
design had been heraldically correct and not 
already registered on behalf of another. The 
Aberdeen shield shows a double line round it, 
ornamented with what ai'e supposed to be lily 
flowers; and this is called the royal tressure, 
because it is the border of the shield of Scot- 
land. It is argued that the royal licence had 
been of necessity given to Aberdeen to use this 
ornamental border. But this is a myth. If the 
Lord Lyon had thought this an encroachment 
on the royal shield, he would not have registered 
it unless Aberdeen had been able to produce a 
licence from the crown. But this tressure seems 
to have been adopted by anyone without re- 
straint. It is seen round the arms of Bishop 
Gavin Dunbar in the south transept of 3t 
M achat church. 

The arms registered for in 1674 Aberdeen 
are described as being three towers triple- 
towered, within the double tressure, supported 
by two leopards. This is evidently the same as 
before, but out of the second tower rises a third, 
because three is the favourite heraldic number. 
A coloured drawing of the arms may have 
bc:en got at the same time on paying a fee to an 
officer of the Lyon's Court, but it is of no legal 
force. 

It seems that two mistakes were made by the 
painter or draughtsman of the arms of Aber- 
deen, one in making one of the supporters face 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



91 



the shield and one face the observer. On a 
representation to the Lyon, the law was laid 
down that the supporters must both fece the 
shield unless it were otherwise expressed in the 
written description. The other mistake is in 
interpreting triple-towered to mean a tower with 
three small turrets on the top. The towers had 
been intended to be an expansion of the former 
double tower. The description of the arms as 
usually shown would be three towers triple- 
turreted. To answer the registered description 
the Aberdeen arms would need to show three 
towers, each composed of three sections and all 
the sections provided with a walk and battle- 
ment. TIhe sections might be all of the same 
diameter, or the second might be less than the 
first, and the third less than the second. 

John Milne, LL.D. 
4c 



Laurence Cockburn. — Perhaps it may in- 
terest Mr. Robert Murdoch (whose note on Lord 
Cockburn reviewing Volunteers I read in your 
July number) to learn that Laurence Cockburn, 
a son of that fine old judge, died in Australia 
through misadventure. He had been engaged 
in the squatting business, and resided in Brigh- 
ton, a marine suburb eight miles distant from 
Melbourne. Returning home one afternoon, he 
took the wrong medicine, a liniment used out- 
wardly by his wife, who suffered from rheumatism. 
He died from the effects, and is buried in the 
North Brighton cemetery, with this inscription 
on a stone : — " In Memory of Laurence Cock- 
burn. Born February 15, 1822. Died Septem- 
ber 2, 1 87 1. Also two sons, Frederick and Guy 
Cockburn." An inquest was held, and it was 
stated there that he was forty-nine years of age, 
and the fourth son of Lord Cockburn of Edin- 
burgh, a Scottish judge. Verdict: "Death from 
the effects of poison taken accidentally and in- 
advertently." I visited the cemetery recently, 
and saw the stone. It is equidistant from the 
tombs of the Australian poet Adam Lindsay 
Gordon (of Aberdeenshire lineage), suicide, 24th 
June, 1870, aged 37, and that erected to the 
Rev. John Lcgge, M.A., for eleven years pastor 
of the Biighton Congregational Church, died 
30th November, 1878, aged 42. He was one of 
three distinguished brothers, all ministers, and 
sons of Ebenezer Le^ge, of Huntly, Aberdeen- 
shire, the others being Rev. George Legge, 
LL.D., died at Leicester in January, 1861, and 
the Rev. James Legge, D.D., the great Chinese 
scholar, professor in Oxford University, died 
29th November, 1897. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



A Curious Prophecv Fulfilled.— We 
extract the following from the Daily News of 
1868 : — "Some credit is due to Scotchmen in 
that the Archbishop of Canterbury having now 
for some weeks been raised to his high place, 
they have not pressed upon our notice the fact 
that he is a Scotchman. Whenever a Scot 
attains to a great position in England, we 
generally are made to know unmistakably that 
he is a Scotchman, and sometimes even it is 
suggested that his success is due to the fact of 
his nationality. That the Primate is a Scotch- 
man has come to be talked and written about in 
connection with a curious ancient prophecy. 
In an epilogue delivered at the Globe Theatre 
in 1601 by Richard Burbage there occurred the 
following sentences : — 

A Scot our King ? The limping state 

That day must need a crutch. 
What next ? In time a Scot will prate 

As Primate of our Church. 
When such shall be, why then you'll see — 

That day it will be found 
The Saxon, down through London Town, 

Shall burrow under ground. 

Has it not come true? Dr. Tait is Archbishop 
of Canterbury, and we travel about London 
underground." 



(Studies. 

792. Gordon House Academy, Kentish Town, 
London. — Mr. Clench, in his ''Marylebone to St. 
Pancras" (p. 161), refers to 

Mr. Alexander Mensall.who for fifty yean kept the (vonloti 
House Academy at Kentish Town, used to walk with his 
pupils once a week to St. Chads to drink the waters as a 
means of keeping the doctor out of the house. 

Why was his school called Gordon House ? 

J. M. B. 

793. Edith Aitken. — In looking over the **Green- 
Room Book" for 1906, I do not see the name of a 
Scottish actress, Miss Edith Aitken, of Glasgow. 
She visited Australia and New Zealand in the sixties 
of last century, and appeared in several plays, es- 
pecially in '* Jessie Brown, or The Relief of Luck- 
now," taking the part of the Highland heroine. On 
her benefit night she recited Collins' *' Ode on the 
Passions," wim living illustrations by members of 
the theatrical staff. I thought it an intellectual treat 
at the time, and think so still, for she was an excel- 
lent elocutionist, and a great favourite with the 
Scottish contingent here. Is the lady still alive? 
If gone to '* that undiscovered country," would some 
correspondent kindly give the date of such exodus ? 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



92 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[December, 1906 



794. David Lyndsay.— In 1822 there was pub- 
lisned at Edinburgh a very interesting volume of 
plays, entitled " Dramas of the Ancient World,'* by 
Ljmdsay. He was no common writer, for he dedi- 
cated his book to the spirit of iCschylus in a strain 
of lofty verse. The dramas are on the Deluge, 
Sardanapalus, Plague of Darkness, Destiny of Cain, 
Rizpah, etc., and in a prefatory note he stated 
that his dramas were written long before those by 
Lord Byron were announced. The book was printed 
in Edinburgh, and published by Blackwood. He 
contributed to BlacKWood*s Magazine a poem on 
the '* Death of Isaiah." Who was this writer, who 
adopted a name already occupied in Scottish poesy ? 
Mr. Ralston Inglis in his booklet, '*The Dramatic 
Writers of Scotland" (Glasgow, 1868), considers 
that " David Lyndsay" was merely a worn de plume ^ 
but gives no clue to the writer's identity. Perhaps 
it may be in Halkett's "Dictionary of Pseudonymous 
Authors," but I have no access to that work. I 
think "David Lyndsay" was a clergyman, who, 
warned by the adverse fate of John Home and John 
Logan, withheld his real name, and now is probably 
'* lapped in oblivion." Alba. 

7P5. "Coxswain Johnnie." — From forty to fifty 
years ago a song, with the above title, was common 
and popular in Forfarshire. It seems to have fallen 
quite out of sight, possibly v/ith good reason ; but I 
would much like to have the full text of a song that 
tempts and evades my memory most pertinaciously. 
Perhaps some reader may possess it, or may recall it 
from the first verse, which is all I am able to quote: — 

Ye've heard o' Coxswain Johnnie, 

A tailor frae Dundee, 
Oaed a' the wye to Aiberdeen 

To hand a Chris-i-maB spree ? 
To hand a Chris-l-mas spree, 

And cut an unco dash, 
Wi' seven pounds o' siller, 

A' in ready cash. 

The tailor's further adventures were humorously 
detailed, and the words were sung to a very fine air 
which I recollect perfectly, and can supply to any 
one interested. Alan Reid. 

796. Robert Gordon of Xeres de la Fron- 
TERA. — Robert Gordon of Xeres de la Frontera is 
reported in the Scots Magazine for August, 1796 
(Vol. 58, p. 576), to have married Miss Rudyard, 
daughter of Major Rudyard, commanding the En- 
gineers in Scotland. Again, in March 13, 1827, 
Maria del Rosario Gordon, only daughter of the late 
Robert Gordon of Xeres de la Frontera, was married 
at Sheatham Castle to A. Macduff Baxter, Attorney- 
General of New South Wales. (Gentleman^ 5 Maga- 
zine^ Vol. 97, part I, p. 362. ) Who was this Gordon ? 
I find no trace of him in the Wardhouse pedigree. 

J. M. B. 

797. Ramsay op Abbotshall and Wauohton. 
— Can anyone help to elucidate the following genea- 
log^ical problem ? Most authorities give only two 
generations of Sir Andrew Ramsays, whereas it 
would appear that there were really three, viz.: — 



1. Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall, Kt. ; born 
c. 1620, died at Abbotshall, 17th January, 1688. 
Provost of Edinburgh, who married, 1641, Janet 
Craw, by whom he had a numerous family. He 
appears to have purchased Abbotshall, Fife, from 
the Scotts of Balweery. 

2. Sir Andrew Ramsay of Waughton, Bart., son 
of the above ; born 24th December, 1648; died v. p. 
1680. He married (ist) the heiress of Hepburn of 
Waughton, and (2nd), c. 1675, Lady Anne Mont- 
gomery. Was created a baronet 1669, and was 
M.P. for North Berwick 1669-74. 

3. Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall and Waugh- 
ton, Bart.; born c. 1675, probably by the second 
marriage, and died s.p. 1709, when he was succeeded 
in Abbotshall by his (?) nephew, Andrew Ramsay, 
said to be a grandson of the laird of Woodstone in 
Kincardineshire. 

On the death of Sir Andrew (No. 2) in 1680, Sir 
Andrew (No. i) was served tutor to his grandson. Sir 
Andrew No. 3. But when in the same year No. 3 
was served heir to his father of Waugton, it was in 
the lands of Abbotshall, from which it would appear 
that Sir Andrew No. i must have resigned these 
lands to the favour of his son some years previously ? 
Sir Andrew (No. 3) in 1696, presumably when he had 
come of age, was served heir to his grandfather, who 
had died in 1688. What was the exact descent from 
the Balmain stock of the Mr. Andrew Ramsay who 
succeeded to the estates of the last baronet in 1709 ? 
His grandson James claimed the baronetcy of Bal- 
main on the failure of heirs male in 1806, and had 
himself served heir male general to his cousin, Sir 
Gilbert, the first baronet (died 1628), from which it 
would appear that his direct ancestor, Mr. Andrew 
Ramsay of Woodston (1574-1659), minister of Grey- 
friars 1614, was a brother of the said Sir Gilbert, 
and not of David his father, as given in Playfair's 
•* Baronetage.'* H. A. Pitman. 

65 Cambridge Terrace, 
Hyde Park, W. 

798. The Grants op Auchannachy.— John 
Leslie, fourth son of John Leslie, 6th laird of Kinin- 
vie, is stated to have married Helen Grant of Auch- 
annachy. Where is Auchannachy, and what is 
known of the descendants of this marriage ? John 
is, it appears, mentioned in the Deed of Entail of 
of the Kininvie estate of 1730 as "in Torber," pre- 
sumably the " Torbay" of today, and situate at no 
great distance from the House of Kininvie. From 
the deed it also appears that John had daughters. 
Perhaps some reader versed in the Kininvie p^igrte 
will be good enough to give their names, and any 
other particulars respecting John's family. 

H. D. McW. 

799. Mr. George Caw, Printer, Hawick.— 
Can any of your numerous readers furnish me with 
information regarding this individual, who introduced 
a printing-press into Hawick about 1782? There 
were quite a number of books published by him 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



93 



notably " The Poetical Museum " in 1784. This is 
one of the earliest and most interesting of the 
Hawick-printed books bearing his imprint, and which 
contained many of the Border ballads afterwards 
included by Sir Walter Scott in his *• Minstrelsy of 
the Scottish Border," published in 1802-3. The 
historians of Hawick are strangely silent regarding 
him. James Wilson, in his '* Annals of Hawick," 
merely mentions that *'in this [1782], or the pre- 
ceding year, a printing- press was introduced by Mr. 
George Caw. One of its earliest productions was 
' The Poetical Museum,' containing, amongst others, 
* Eskdale,* a poem by the late Thomas Telford, 
engineer, published in 1784. This was followed, in 
1786, by Dr. Charters of Wilton's * Sermons.* " A 
friend has drawn my attention to the fact that 
George Caw, printer, Edinburgh, appears in list of 
subscribers' names to " Sermons on Various Im- 
portant Subjects," Vol. II., by the Rev. John Young 
(of Hawick), printed in Edinburgh in 1780. If this 
was the same printer, it would appear that he had 
established a press in Edinburgh previous to the one 
in Hawick, and both carried on simultaneously — the 
former, I believe, till 1822. I shall feel grateful for 
any information that will throw light on his history, 
particularly the period dealing with his connection 
with Hawick. 

Hassendean, James Sinton. 

Eastfield, Joppa. 

800.— Prince Charlie's Persian Horse.— I 
am in possession of an old copper engraving en- 
titled ** The Marbled Persian belonging to the Cheva- 
lier's Eldest Son." Roughly, the picture represents 
a white horse with marks on shoulders and haunches, 
the horse being held by the reins by a Persian, and 
in the background a gentleman in Persian dress. 
The imprint bears : " Newcastle : Printed and Sold 
by Joseph Barber. According to Act of Parliament." 
Can any reader give information about this particular 
horse ? I have no recollection of ever seeing any 
mention of a Persian horse belonging to Prince 
Charlie, whom I take to be the Chevalier's eldest 
son. The horse might, however, have belonged to 
the eldest son of some other Chevalier. 

New York. W. M. M. 



answers. 



319. Gordon, Garmouth (2nd S., V., 13, 46, 
50). — The following outline pedigree is compiled 
from various sources, including a genealogical tree 
drawn up by Major -General Alexander H. A. Gordon 
(who died in 1893), and now in the possession of 
Mr. John Allan, Birch Cottage, Elgin. William 
Gordon of Arradoul, second son of Alexander Gordon 
of Buckie, had a natural son, William Gordon, in 
Lunan ("House of Gordon," i., 64). William 
Gordon in Lunan, in the parish of Speymouth, died 
before May, 1671 (*• Brodie Diaries," p. 313). He 



married Marjorie Dunbar, who survived him, and 
had at least three sons, Alexander, James, and 
Robert. 

I. Alexander Gordon, merchant in Garmouth, and 
also called *' Briggs," "of Briggs," or " Bridges," 
died before June 15, 1689. He married Agnes 
Dunbar, who survived him, and had at least the fol- 
lowing children (the order is not chronological) : — 

1. Alexander, merchant in Garmouth and Elgin, 
also called " Briggs," or "of Briggs." 

2. William, merchant in Edinburgh, who died 
before November 8, 17 10, leaving a widow, 
Elizabeth Horsburgh. 

3. Thomas, watchmaker, Edinburgh, who died 

in 1743- 

4. Patrick, watchmaker, Edinburgh, who died 

in 1749. 

5. George. 

6. Robert. 

7. Archibald. 

8. Anna, who married (as his second wife) Rev. 
George Cumming, minister of Essill. 

9. Margaret, who married William Geddes, 
merchant in Elgin. 

II. James Gordon got a wadset over Lunan in 1676, 
and died in 1684, unmarried. 

III. Robert Gordon, born February 11, 1655, mer- 
chant in Garmouth, succeeded his brother James 
in the wadset over Lunan in 1684. The wadset 
was redeemed in 1710, and thereafter Robert 
Gordon was tenant of Lunan. He married (i) on 
October 7, 1679, Christian, daughter of William 
Winchester in Kinnedor, and by her had William, 
Christian, and Janet ; and (2) on February 3, 1687, 
Barbara, daughter of Alexander Gordon in Kinn- 
edor, and sister of Alexander Gordon of Dykeside 
in Birnie. By Barbara Gordon he had at least 
two daughters— Jean, who married, June 4, 1739, 
Francis Lafleche, merchant in Aberdeen ; and 
Elizabeth, who married, November 21, 1723, 
William Harrald in Dallas) and had a daughter, 
Anfiie, who married (as his second wife) Alexander 
Forsyth, merchant in Elgin, and had two sons, 
Joseph Forsyth, M.A., King's College, Aberdeen, 
1779, author of "Travels in Italy;" and Isaac 
Forsyth, Bookseller, Elgin— and at least two sons, 
Alexander and James. 

1. Alexander, born November 17, 1687, W.S., 
acquired Cairnfield and Arradoul, Banffshire, 
and became ancestor of the present Gordons 
of Cairnfield. 

2. James, merchant in Garmouth, married, July 
9, 1728, Margaret, daughter of John Cruick- 
shank, Auchmadies, Boharm, chamberlain to 
the Laird of Grant He died, November 8, 
1765, aged 69, and his widow died, September 
26, 1793, aged 85. They had eight sons and 
three daughters. Of the daughters, Helen 
died unmarried ; Anne married James Allan, 
Garmouth, and (with other children) had a 
daughter, Helen, who married Rev. James 
Gillan, minister of Speymouth, and had issue ; 



94 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[December, 1906 



and Clementina married Rev. John Falconer, 
minister of Stromness, and had issue. Six of the 
sons died without issue, including the eldest, 
Thomas, watchmaker in New York. Peter 
married and had issue. William, the youngest 
son, born February i, 1752, M.A., King's 
College, Aberdeen, 1771, ordained to be 
missionary at Enzte, 1776, and translated to 
the parish of Elgin, 1784, died at Elgin, 
September 19, 1837. He married, August 8, 
1793, Catherine, daughter of James Brodie 
of Muiresk, and by her (who died, October 24, 
1840) he had six sons and five daughters. All 
the daughters died unmarried except Anne, 
who married Rev. John Allan, ministerof Peter- 
culter, and had a son, John, M.A., Birch 
Cottage, Elgin. All the sons died unmarried 
except Alexander, who was Sheriff- Substitute 
of Sutherland, and died at Toronto, March 
14, 1870, and who married Augusta Wall is, 
and had four sons and four daughters. Olf 
the Sherriff- Substitute's sons, Major-General 
Alexander Herman Adam Gordon died on 
February 16, 1893, leaving issue. 
Boharm. S. R. 

347. English County Anthology (2ndS.,V., 
62, 79, 94, no, 124, 142; VI., 12, 30; Vn., 79, 
174). — The Publishers' Circular of July 28, this year, 
makes the following announcement : — " Mr. William 
Andrews, of the Royal Institution in Hull, is writing 
for early publication a volume on the * Poets and 
Poetry of Lincolnshire.' It will include notes and 
examples of the poetry of the Wesleys, the Tenny- 
sons, Jean Ingelow, Thomas Miller, Thomas Cooper, 
January Searle, and many more authors, living and 
dead, who have enriched the literature of the country 
with poetical contributions. Mr. Andrews is favour- 
ably known as the author of * Modem Yorkshire 
Poets,' ' North Country Poets,' and * Modern Merry 
Men.'" Robert Murdoch. 

684. Mr. D. McGregor Peter (2nd S., VII., 
102, 127, 157). — I regret my inability to give **Alba" 
the exact date of ** Dancie Peter's" death, but he 
(and others) may be interested in these particulars 
regarding him. In my younger days Mr. Peter was 
a well-known personage in the Forfar, Kirriemuir, 
and Tannadice districts, and I remember well the 
long grey beard, the faded surtout, and the green 
6ddle bag of the dancing master. He was credited, 
rather erroneously, with poetic ability. The ballad 
of "The Rose-a-Lyndsaye" somehow came to be 
attributed to him, mainly, as is clearly presumable, 
through varied genealogical studies in which the 
Lindsay family was prominent. As every student 
knows, ** The Rose-a-Lyndsaye" was the work of 
that Aberdeen genius, William Forsyth, and was 
written almost impromptu, to show how easily the 
style and feeling of the Old Ballad might be repro- 
duced. It is printed in his " Idylls and Lyrics," 
1872 — see *' Bards of Angus and the Mearns " 
(p. 605). D. McGregor Peter's magnum opus was 



a ** Baronage of Angus and the Mearns," which gave 
so much offence, or was so crudely candid to the 
families concerned, that it was "suppressed," and 
now ranks as a scarce and dear book. 

Alan Reid. 

7x9. The Name Bodie (2nd S., VII., 156).— 
The undernoted will doubtless be of interest to the 
present-day descendants. The list is extracted from 
the Poll Book of 1696, and contains the references 
which should prove useful: — 

Volume I. 

Parish of Pbtrrhbad. Whtthill. 

551. James Boddie and WlllUm Donald, herds, non of 
them of sixteen years of age, tney get of fee 
£2 13s. 4d., the fortieth pairt is Is. 4d., and 6s. of 
geuerall poll is 78 4<1. 

551. James Bodie, shoemaker, for his trade 68., of generall 
poll 6b 12s. 

TORTBRSTOUNE. 

564. Alexander Watt, tennent ther, his proporttone of 
valued rent is £1 2s., of generall poll is 6s. 

£1 &. Od. 
Helen Bodie. his spouse, her generall poll is 6s 

555. William Boddie, grassman, and his wife (no children 
poleable) l^. 

Town of Peterhxad. Dens. 

568. Margrat Bodie, ther 6s. 

570. George Clark, tailer, for himself and tratle, And for 
his wife, Isobell Bodie (no children poUable, nor 
servants) 6b. 

LONQSIDB. ENBRQUHOMRRT-. 

592. Katherin Body, grasswoman, generall poll . 6s. 

Parish of Deer. Achhaoher. 
611. John Boddie, grassman, and his wife . . 12i. 

Bank Behitoh. 
628. Gilbert Bodie, gairdner, and his wife . . IBs. 



aff 



Helen Bodie, his sister 6b. 

Milne op Skelmurb and Corthioran. 
633. Patrick Bodie, fee and poll 12i. 

Volume II. 

Parish of Fraserbctrgh. 

92. Gilbert Boddie, in Fingask, for Bessie Cumniing his 
wife 6b 

Parish of Crui>en. Ashallo. 

125. John Bob, tennent ther, of free stock of 500 merks 

£2 16b. Od. 
Jean Boddie, his spouse 6b. 

Parish of Foyerake. 
151. James Bodie, tennent ther, is . . . .3b. 

KIRKHILL. 

157. William Bodie, tra>lesman, and his wife, poll is IBs. 

Matnbs of Foyer an e. 

159. James Bo<lie, tennent ther, his proportlnne of the 

valuatione. with the generall poll is . . 9s. 

Item, his wife, her poll is 6t. 

North Culter Cullen. 

162. George Bodie, servant, his foe Is £8 per annum, the 
fortieth pairt whereof and generall poll is . lOs. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES. AND QUERIES 



95 



Matms or Knock HALL. 
163l Alexander Bodie, in Mnyns of Knockhall ifl 



St. 



FORNBTIB. 

167. James Bodle, servant, fee £26 per annum, poll 14s. 8d. 

Parish of Tarvss. Craigiib or Shrithin. 
189. Christian Boddy, cottar 68. 



Metklb Ythsib. 
197. Agnes Boddy, for fee and generall poll 

PARISH or Ellon. 

243. Beatrix Body, sponse to John Ghrystle. 
255. Thomas Cooper, taylor, and Barbara Body 



10s. 6il. 



6i. 
IBs. 



Parish of Druhblatb. Kirktounb. 

268. Christian Bodie, fee is 9 merlcB, fortieth part and 
generall poll is 9s. 



Parish of old Maohar. 

502. John Bodie (tennent in Balgounie) . 8s. 4d. 

James Bodie, tennent (In Balgounie in Morcar), and 

Elizabeth watt, his spouse (no children, no servants) 

12s. 

564. John Bodie, shoemaker, and his wife (no chyld, etc.), 

of poll 18s. 

Mr. John Stuart, in his prefatory notice to the Poll 
Book, remarks that in some districts of the county 
with which he is more immediately acquainted, 
the sameness occurring now in the names of per- 
sons, in the same districts, contained in the record 
of 1696, is very striking. In regard to one parish, 
where a pretty full list of the inhabitants has en- 
titled him to make a like comparison at a period 
nearly sixty years previous to the date of the Poll 
Book, the similarity of names is equally remarkable. 
Many of our yeomen have continued in the localities, 
which have been the home of their forefathers, for 
centuries, and nothing but the destruction of our 
ecclesiastical records prevents this class of our popu- 
lation from tracing their extraction back to a very 
considerable antiquity. *' It is needless to remark," 
says Mr. Stuart, *' how much of the national charac- 
ter may be traced to the hereditary attachment of 
the most important part of our population to particu- 
lar localities. . . As the Poll Book was more 
especially a book of reference, considerable care was 
taken in the preparation of the indices of places and 
names, keeping in view their genealogical and etymo- 
logical importance." (Vol. I., xiii.-xiv.) 

Robert Murdoch. 

769. Henry Shanks (2nd S., VIII., 79).— I 
regret that " S " should have made the mistake of 
stating that my old friend " is no longer alive." He 
is very much so, as the Editor will allow when he 
reads a post card received by me from him this very 
week. I hope to see Harry soon, and to have a 
laugh with him over his premature departure. 

Alan Reid. 

782. Byron and the Plain op Marathon (2nd 
S., VIII., 77). — Byron was in Greece towards the 
close of the year 1809, reaching Athens on Christ- 
mas day. He remained about three months in the 



city, and visited various places of interest in the 
neighbourhood, among them the Plain of Marathon. 
Sometime about the beginning of 1810, the Plain 
was offered him for a nominal sum. Professor 
Nichol (Byron, "English Men of Letters" series, 
p. 61) observes that "the Plain (of Marathon) is 
said to have been placed at his disposal for about 
the same sum that thirty years later an American 
volunteered to give for the bark with his name on 
the tree at Newstead." S. 

783. Sir James Horn Burnett's Challenge 
BuoLE (2nd S., VIII., 77). — This query seems self- 
explanatory. Sir James Horn Burnett, who died in 
1876, presented a " challenge bugle " to the Kincar- 
dineshire Rifle Volunteers in 1864. In course of 
time, I understand, the Kincardineshire battalion 
was amalgamated with the 5th (Deeside Highland) 
V.B. Gordon Highlanders, whose headquarters are 
at Banchory. Naturally, the bugle followed the 
fortunes of the battalion to which it belonged, and 
is now preserved in Aberdeenshire. For the con- 
ditions on which the bugle was originally g^ven, one 
would need to consult the files of some newspaper 
(perhaps an Aberdeen newspaper) circulating in 
Kincardineshire in 1864. W. 

784. Rhyme on Snuff (2nd S., VIII., 77). — 
I have often heard a Forfar rhyme which has a close 
affinity to the lines quoted by Robert Murdoch. It 
was attributed, locsdly, to "Doctor" Edwards, a 
chemist who was a great snuffer, and who said in 
praise of snuff : — 

It clears the eyes, It cleans the nose, 
And mak's the brains to knack ; 

Noo, isna that a fine thing 
For any man to tak' ? 

I do not recollect having seen these lines in print, 
and those quoted by R. M. are also fresh to me. 

Alan Reid. 



Mr. Robert Murdoch has done- well to print this 
rhyme which, however small its literary merit, is 
worth being remembered. I heard it, or something 
very like it, many years ago, but never before read 
it in print. It was repeated in my hearing, along 
with a rhyme on tobacco similar, I think, to that 
given in Chambers*s '* Popular Rhymes." Rhymes 
on snuff appear to be rather uncommon. Does Mr. 
Murdoch know any more ? Senex. 

786. ** Rosy-fingered Morn" (2nd S., VIII., 
77). — The glee, " Hail, Smiling Morn," was one of 
six, iirst issued in 1799. Like Mr. Alan Reid, I 
have failed to discover the author of the words, and 
do not find them mentioned in several dictionaries 
of quotations to which I have referred. Readers 
will observe that the ideas conveyed in the four lines 
quoted, as well as the words themselves, while 
essentially poetical, are at the same time extremely 
common in the works of some of our earlier poets. 
Such expressions as "smiling morn," " tips the hills 
with gold," "rosy fingers," "ope the gates of day," 



96 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [December, 1906 



" gay face of Nature,*' " darkness flies away," occur 
repeatedly in cognate forms, sometimes in the very 
words of the glee, in the pages of Shakespeare and 
Milton. This leads to the conclusion that the lines 
quoted are rather a clever bit of literary craftsman- 
ship than a poem independently inspired. May one 
not suggest, therefore, that Reginald Spoiforth 
(1768-1827), the composer of the music, was also 
responsible for the words of the glee ? 

W. S. 

787. A " Scots Review" of 1774 (2nd S.,VIII., 
78).— That the publication referred to was a jeu 
(Vesprit and not a periodical is established by 
Lowndes, who has an entry to the following effect: — 
*'A specimen of the Scots Review, Edinburgh, 1774, 
i2mo. A clever y^tt d* esprit consisting of 30 pages, 
without printer or publisher*s name.*' W. S. 

788. The Murder op Two Sons of Gordon of 
Ellon (2nd S., VIII., 53, 78).— The note was taken 
mainly from N, 6* Q., January 7, i860, and partly 
from the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. 
For Edinburgh Courant read ScoVs Courant. 

J. M. 

789. " Esconse " (2nd S., VIII., 78).— The word 
"esconse" is not given in Jamieson's abridged 
** Scottish Dictionary," though not uncommon in 
the vernacular speech of Scotland. It is merely, 
however, a corrupt form of the English word " en- 



sconse. 



(( 



W. 



A.M." is in error in spelling the word he quotes 
as he has done. It ought to be ** ensconce." So 
spelt it is a good English word, found in Shak- 
speare, in Butler's ** Hudibras," Sir Walter Scott, 
Washington Irving, Bulwer Lytton, Miss Mulock. 
and many other authors. Dr. Murray, in his *' New 
English Dictionary," gives an explanation of its etymo- 
logy. He says it is derived from the prefix "en," which, 
when placed before a substantive, has the general 
sense "to put (something) into or on" what the 
latter member indicates. Placed, therefore, before 
the substantive " sconce," which means a small 
fortification or earthwork, it comes to mean, among 
other senses which I shall not enumerate, *' to 
establish in a place or position for the purpose of 
security, comfort, snugness," etc. For example, 
Dickens has the phrase, * ' Esconcing themselves in 
the warm chimney-corner." I have little doubt if 
•• H. M." looks up either the " Imperial" or "The 
Twentieth Century" Dictionaries, he will find the 
word " ensconce." " Esconse " must be a misprint 
Dollar. W. B. R. W. 

790. Brompton Oratory Design (2nd S.,VIII., 
78). — Without presuming to grapple with this query, 
I would like to ask if " Mr. Andrew J. Gordon, 
architect," is identical with " R. J. Gordon, 41 
Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square," an artist who ex- 
hibited one picture-subject in the Royal Academy in 



1887. For at least three years previously he had 
pictures hung in the same place. My impression is 
that the names do not indicate the same person, but 
the coincidence of name and time of exhibition is 
somewhat peculiar. Might not a Royal Academy 
Exhibition Catalogue for 1887 give the name of the 
Roman Catholic church designed by Mr. Gordon ? 

W. 

79X. Fbtterangus (2nd S.,VIII., 78). —I incline 
to believe that James Ferguson of Pitfour, an emi- 
nent lawyer and Lord of Session, was the purchaser 
of Fetterangus estate in 1757. He was the father 
of James Ferguson of Pitfour, who for many years 
represented Aberdeenshire in Parliament. 

W. 



Scots Xoofts of tbe Aontb. 



Camle, William. Further Aberdeen Remini. 
scences : Social, Civic, and Personal Pencillings 
of the Granite City. Vol. 3. Portrait. Net, 
3s. 6d. and 5s. Aberdeen University Press. 

Qraham, B. Maxtone, and Pater^on, E. True 
Romances of Scotland. 8vo. Net, 5s. 

Blackwood. 

Hanie-Brown, J. A., P.R.S.H., F.Z.5. A 

Fauna of the Tay Basin and Strathmore. With 
21 Full-Page Plates and 5 Maps. Small 4to. Net, 
2 IS. David Douglas. 

Henderson, T. F. The Auld Ayrshire of Robbie 
Burns. 10 Illustrations in Colour. 8vo. Net, 
2S. 6d. Edinburgh : T. N. Foulis. 

Lang, Andrew. A History of Scotland from the 
Roman Occupation. Fourth and Concluding 
Volume. With Photogravure Frontispiece of the 
Old Pretender. Demy 8vo. Net, 15s. 

Blackwood. 

Orrock, James, and Crockett, W. S. On the 

Border County. Edited by W. Shaw Sparrow. 
23 Illustrations in Colour. 4to. Net, 7s. 6d. 

Hodder & Stoughton. 

5ldgwlck, Frank. Popular Ballads of the Old 
Time: Third Series. With Map oi the Border 
Country. Fcap. 8vo. Net, 3s. 6d. 

London: A. H. Bullen. 

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. Ed. 

Printed and Published at The Rosemounl Pren, Aberdeen. 
Literary communications should be addressed to the Sditor, 
23 Osborne Place. A))erdeen; Advertisements and Business 
Letters to the Publishers, Farmer's Hall Lane, Aoerdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL. vin. "I Kn 'T 
2nd skribbJ i^^« /• 



January, 1907. 



itEGIflTEBEDlgfSpMi 



Post 4d. 



CONTENTS. 

Nom :— Paoi 

Rats and Orapes 97 

Bibliographj of Aberdeen Periodicals 98 

' • A Happy English Child " 100 

" Sawney iBeane" 101 

Alexander Gordon, Executed at Brest 102 

** Brodtes, Lawiances, and Murdochs in 1745 103 

Aberdonians Abroad : Henry Karquharson 103 

Forfarshire as a Factor In Scottish Life and Thought 106 

Macpherson Letters 105 

A 'Bibliography of Edinburgh Periodical Literature 107 
MiNOK Notes:— 

Father Archangel 97 

Forfarshire as a Factor In Scottish Life and Thought 99 

The Birthplace of George Rfdpath 100 

Iriahmen with Norman Names 102 

'llie Heir Male of the Lords Forbes of Pltsligo— 

Eliza Inverarlty— Rhyme on Gold 104 

The Burnet Bursaries at A1)erdeen— Alierdeen Arms 109 

Htm Room. 110 

Qitkribs I 

The Gordons of Carroll— Mrs. Gordon of Craig— Dr. 
Ocirge Bethune— " Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush" 
—"A Quid New Tear to Ane an' A'"— The High- 
land Independent Companies 110 

AIVSWKRS :— 

Lawrance Subscribers to James Fordyue's Hymns, 
1787 James Murdoch, Author— Rhyme on Snuff- 
Gordon UoQ8e;Acadeoiy, Kentish Town 110 

Bdith Aitken— Darid Lyndsay— " Coxswain Johnnie" 
—Robert Gordon of Xeree de la (Yontera— Ramsay 
of Abbotshall and Waughton— The Grants of 
Auchannachy— Mr. George Caw, Printer, Hawick 111 

Prince Charlie's Persian Horse 112 

Literature U2 

Soots Books o f thr Month 1 12 

ABERDEEN, JANUARY, igcq, 

RATS AND GRAPES. 
Dr. Milne's note in your July number on foxes 
eating berries interested me somewhat, for it 
put me in mind of the early fabulists, i^sop, 
Pha;dnis, and Pilpay, with the versified 
transcripts of Gay and La Fontaine in our old 
school books. Whether foxes actually eat 
grapes when they have a chance of doing so 
is more than I can affirm, but I can assure Dr. 
Milne that here, in Australia, rats eat grapes 
with avidity, for 1 have disturbed them when 
" on the job." I had an old vine in my garden 
at Hotham (now called North Melbourne), on 
which I had annually large bunches of sweet- 
water grapes, some about a foot in length, and 
only depending a short distance from the ground. 
I had observed in the morning some shredded 
bits of green stuff lying about, and imagined 
that the damage was done by birds, which are 



a great cross to the Australian fruit-grower. 
However, one moonlight night I went out to see 
if the back-gate was properly fastened, and when 
I passed the vine there was a great rustle : fully 
a dozen rats jumped down from the branches 
and scampered off. The mystery was explained : 
the light green shreds were the skins of the 
berries which they rejected. The lower branches 
were all nibbled. I set an old iron-toothed trap 
near the place, and caught several rats ; but one 
morning I could not see the trap, it having been 
dragged down a hole. There was a stout cord 
attached to it, and when I pulled at it something 
resisted, but eventually I wrenched it up, with 
the leg of a rat torn from its body attached to it. 
This bleeding and shrieking wretch coming 
amongst the rat community under my house 
must have effectualljr scared them, for they all 
evacuated the premises, and I was no longer 
bothered with them. I was apprehensive that 
the dismembered rodent would die under the 
house, necessitating the raising of the flooring- 
boards to remove it, as such contingencies 
frequently happen in rat-infested dwellings, 
but it did not, for, some months afterwards, in 
cleaning out a broken ventilator near the ground, 
I discovered the mummified carcase of a three- 
legged rat, evidently the victim of the iron- 
jawed decoy. I left it in its own place of 
sepulture, as an object lesson for enterprising 
rodents in quest of new quarters. They never 
came back. 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba, 



Father Archangel.— Mr. Voynich, of 
Shaftesbury Avenue, whose second-hand cata- 
logues are so admirably done, is offering for 1 5s. 
Rmuccini's " II Cappuccino Scozzese,** second 
edition, published in Rome in 1645. He points 
out that the British Museum Catalogue has a 
note with regard to the Bologna edition, stating 
that the book " purports to be a life of George 
Leslie.'' The \Iuseum itself has not a copy of 
this Rome edition, and Mr. Voynich says it is 
not mentioned in Haym, Brunet, Descbamps, 
Ebert, or Graesse. The first edition appeared 
in 1644. 



98 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ABERDEEN 
PERIODICALS. 

(Continued from 2nd S., VIII., p. 8.) 



1 830. The A berdeen Independent. ( i st S. , I. , 2 1 ; 
2nd S., III., 55 ; VI., 75). I have at last examined, 
through the good offices of Mr. P. J. Anderson, 
King's College, No. XI., June, 1831. It bears the 
imprint: ** Edwards & Co., Printers, 21 Back Wynd, 
Aberdeen" — no publisher's name attached. 

The above issue contains a special review of The 
Aberdeen Magazine , which the reviewer main- 
tains as the most respectable publication of its kind 
that ever appeared in Aberdeen — *^ saving and ex- 
cepting the one with which we have the honour to 
be connected." As to this last, he says its existence 
is altogether a miracle, considering that it traversed 
for several months the hazardous ocean of author- 
ship without a helmsman to direct its course, or, 
to drop the figure, became a receptacle for all the 
maukish trash which the brainless scribbler chose to 
pour into its pages. . . Continuing, he says: — 
** The present Aberdeen Magazine displays a degree 
of scholarship, an acquaintance with ancient and 
modern literature, an extent of information, and a 
talent for composition highly creditable to its con- 
ductors." 

An article, bearing the title ** Reminiscences of an 
Unfortunate Literary Character," on p. 341 of the 
Independent^ proclaims **To be continued," and 
from this we infer that the publisher had sufficient 
material ready for insertion in future issues. In 
addition to this, the issue contained long-winded 
epistles on Reform Bills,Toryism, and kindred topics, 
as also on ** Temperance Societies," whose motto, 
culled from Shakespeare, 

0, reuon not the need, our Ijarest beggars 
Are in the poorest things superfluous ; 
Allow not nature more than nature needs ; 
Man's life is cheap as beasts'— 

was used as a headpiece. 

Under the heading addressed to correspondents, 
the following advice appeared : — 

** We beg our correspondents to study condensa- 
tion as much as possible, and not to tire our patience, 
or that of our readers, with such long epistles as we 
not infrequently receive. It were well, too, if they 
would leave space between the lines for such inter- 
lineations as may be necessary." 

The publishers also gave forth the notice that, the 
causes which prevented the Independent from appear- 
ing at its appointed time for some months past being 
entirely removed, "our readers may rest assured 
that it will in future be regularly published on the 
first day of every month, provided always that the 
first day of that month do not happen to be Sun- 
day." They also announced that, as No. 12, for 
July, which completes the first volume, ** is still due, 
it will be immediately put to press, and published 
with all possible expedition." 



Furthermore, the publishers intended to commence 
a new series of the Independent with No. 13, the 
first of Vol. II., and that a variety of improvements 
suggested by experience were to be admitted, which 
they (the publishers) confidently hoped would extend 
its claims to public patronage. Also, the services 
of the original editor were to be engaged for the 
new series, and no exertion on their part would be 
wanting to render the Independent worthy of the 
cause it designed to support. 

It is rather unique that the first issue, August, 
1830, pp. 31-32, contains an extract from the Spec- 
tator on the case Lord Forbes, etc., v. Leys, Masson 
and Co. , tried in the Court of Session at Edinburgh 
that year, and that on 22nd May, 1906, a similar 
case was cited in the Evening Express. 

The resurrectionist times of 1830 are also treated 
in an article on "A New Plan to Protect the Grave 
from Violation." 

183 1. The Aberdeen New Independent, or. Liter- 
ary Mtd Political Repository. No. i,Vol. I., Octo- 
ber, 183 1. Size, demy 8vo, 30 pp., double-columned. 
No price indicated, but probably 6d. The last page 
has : ** Published on the first day of every month by 
Edwards & Co., 21 Back Wynd; Edwards & Co., 
Printers." 

The writer is of the opinion that the aim of the 
above periodical, which is unquestionably the suc- 
cessor of the Independent already noted, was to help 
the cause of political and municipal progress in 
Aberdeen in many ways. The contents of the first 
part embrace: "Reviews of Current Literature"; 
** Acrimonious Discussions on Local Events" (these 
find a prominent place in the issue which lies before 
me); the concluding part of an article which ap- 
peared serially in the former Independent, entitled : 
*' Reminiscences of an Unfortunate Literary Charac- 
ter"; ** Noctes MoUisionianie," an imaginary con- 
versation by James and John, who air their opinions 
bearing on the affairs connected with the Town 
Council, Commissioners of Police, Guildry, Trades, 
etc.; letters by discontented writers on " Excessiw 
Labour," also *' Scottish Poor Law." 

There were evidently further issues than the one 
shown me by Mr. P. J. Anderson, for, at the end of 
a review of Professor Pillan's work on the ** Intellec- 
tual System of Education," the announcement, 
<* To be concluded in our next," will be seen. 

The following pithy retorts addressed "To Corres- 
pondents " are reproduced herewith, as showing that 
the editor was an individual possessed of humour. 
He remarks: — 

" * The Groans from the Tomb,' from the new 
erection in the Town's Church Yard, commonly 
called * Peter Carr's Bone Mill Chimney,* came too 
late for insertion." Also, " * Simon Pones' Method of 
Remedying the Bad Effects of the Impure Matter,' 
will be inscribed in our next." And that " * Timothy 
Turst's Remarks' are very correct, but a press of 
matter prevents us from inserting them." 

I should much like to handle the later issues if 
at all possible. 



'■i^'^B^F^^ 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



99 



1901. The Sangley Monthly. No. i, June, 1901. 
8 pp., small 4to, 5 x 3^. Annual subscription, 4s. 
Imprint, on p. 2: '* [James] Blair, Printer, 11 St. 
Nicholas Street, Aberdeen." 

The career of this monthly was one of short 
duration. It succumbed at issue No. 15, August, 
1902. The youthful editor of this unique juvenile pro- 
duction, who read articles in different magazines and 
then told them in his own words in his production, 
was a lad, Henry James Watt, no George Street, 
Aberdeen, and was produced by him whilst a scholar 
attending the Aberdeen Grammar School. The 
same gentleman, writing me from '*Alford,*' 4 
Bromley Road, Catford, London, S.E., on the nth 
April, 1906, states that he can hardly explain why he 
commenced the above monthly except it were for a 
pastime; but when he told me the name of his 
former home at Catford was Sangley Lodge, readers 
will readily understand how the name was acquired. 
It circulated amongst the editor's friends, and as 
there were only from fifty to a hundred printed of 
each issue, the printing charge was accordingly high. 
No complete file copy exists. 



1902. The Rose attd Heart. (2nd S., VI., 42.) 
The following is an extract from The Fraserburgh 
Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser ^ 28th 
November, 1905: — **Mr. A. G. Stuart died on Sun- 
day morning, 25th inst., aged 65. In early life he 
regularly went to the Greenland whale fishing, and 
he has been in turn a baker, barber, printer, pub- 
lisher, librarian, and travelling showman." The 
above magazine was the product of his fertile brain. 



1905. La Norda Stelo, Organo de la Aberdina 
Esperantism Klubo. Size, small 4to. Price 3d. 
Published irregularly. Its illustrated cover, which 
depicts the Aberdeen Townhouse tower on its face, 
and a globe of the world on the back, was the work 
of Thomson & Duncan, lithographers, 26 Union 
Row, Aberdeen. Numero i, Marto, 1905, 13 pages ; 
Numero 2, Majo, 1905, 15 pages, was produced by 
the typewriter, and done on one side of the paper 
only. 

The central idea for publishing the above periodical 
was to further and spread the universal language 
known as Esperanto throughout the world; to ex- 
tend its use by study and practice ; also to encourage 
the young to attend classes inaugurated for its study. 

The secretary of the Esperanto Club, whose name 
appears on each issue, was D[onaldson] S[imp8on] 
Rose, M.A., advocate, 259 Union Street, Aberdeen. 
Its foremost exponent was Mr. A. Christen, late of 
134 King's Gate, Aberdeen. He greatly interested 
himself on its behalf, and besides giving public 
lectures in its favour, conducted classes for its 
teaching. 

Robert Murdoch. 

Aberdeen. 



Forfarshire as a Factor in Scottish 
Life and Thouoht.— Is "W. B. R. W." not in 
error in including among Forfarshire distin- 
guished naval men the name of Sir George 
Carnegie, sixth Earl of Southesk? 1 rather 
think that he must refer to George Carnegie, 
sixth Earl of Northesk, who was born on 2nd 
August, 17 16. Joining the Navy, he obtained 
his commission in his twenty-third year, and 
was appointed to the command of the " Preston" 
on 8th September, 1742. He saw much active 
service, but, in consequence of his health being 
seriously affected, he obtained permission to 
resign his command and return to Britain. 
Although retired from active service, he was 
gradually promoted, until he reached the rank 
of Admiral of the White on 29th January, 1778. 
He died on 27th January, 1792, and was suc- 
ceeded by his third son, George, seventh Earl, 
who was born on loth April, 1758. He also 
joined the Navy, and obtained his commission, 
and when only nineteen years of age was ap- 
pointed to the command of the ** Apollo.'' He 
was one of the officers of the " Royal George ** 
when she took part in the relief of Gibraltar ; 
and, after service in the West Indies, he was 
raised to the rank of Post Captain on 7th April, 
1782. He commanded the " Monmouth " in the 
North Sea Fleet in 1796, and was promoted to 
the rank of Rear Admiral of the White in 1804. 
He was third in command at Trafalgar — in the 
** Britannia''; and, passing through the ranks 
of Vice-Admiral and Admiral, he attained that 
of Rear Admiral of Great Britain. He was 
also appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 
British Navy at Plymouth, which he held until 
1830. He died on 28th May, 1831, and was 
buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, where a tablet 
was erected to his memory, adjacent to Lord 
Nelson's monument. 



Goodlybum, Perth. 



J. E. Leighton. 



Forfarshire as a Factor in Scottish 
Life and Thought.— Alas ! that I should 
again have to cry ''^Peccavi^ and for a precisely 
similar reason, to wit, sheer carelessness, and 
trusting to a memory which, though fairly good, 
is sometimes treacherous. I thank Mr. Leigh- 
ton for putting me right as to the birthplace of 
the artist George Paul Chalmers. My own 
notebooks are, of course, quite correct, and con- 
demn me for neglecting to examine them before 
making the statement, which Mr. Leighton so 
justly describes as '^ a mistake." I meekly and 
even gratefully accept his gentle correction, 
while I murmur humbly and penitently, " Mea 
culpa! Mea culpa!'' W. B, R W, 



lOO 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



"A HAPPY ENGLISH CHILD." 



Dr. Douglas Hyde, a well-known Irish 
author, complained recently that the school 
lessons prepared by Archbishop Whately for 
Irish seminaries were saturated with Anglican- 
isms, ironically observing that the prelate saw 
no incongruity in hearing young Irelanders 
singing this ditty : — 

I thank the goodness and the grace 
Which on my birth have smiled. 

And made me in these Christian da3r8 
A happy English child I 

Of course not : Englishmen are proverbially 
blind in matters of that sort, and rouse antagon- 
ism by their stupidity and want of tact. What 
was good enough for English bairns ought, 
inferentially, to be good enough also for Zulu, 
Hindu, Maori, or other heathen urchins, because 
it keeps the superiority of the dominant race 
well in front, but otherwise it is simply folly to 
foist this bit of Anglican brag upon an alien race. 
An easy solution of Dr. Hyde's difficulty would 
have been to substitute " Irish " for English, but 
whether they adopted it I cannot say. I suppose 
"a happy Irish child" under English misrule 
would be a rarity. Well, reading Dr. Hyde's 
complaint forcibly reminded me of my boyish 
days at Dr. A. BelPs school in Frederick Street, 
Aberdeen. I can remember the incident as if 
it had only occurred yesterday. A new dominie 
had come to govern and instruct us — a vain, 
foppish, Anglified young fellow, who afterwards 
blossomed into a parson, and on the very first 
day of his duty as schoolmaster he gave out the 
self-same lines which Dr. Hyde stigmatises as 
absurd for Irish youth. Instantly there was 
a commotion among the older boys, and an 
order was rapidly given to us juveniles to 
exchange " Scottish " for English. Accordingly 
the quatrain, led by Willie Towns (our master 
of song), was sung with great birr, ending 
triumphantly —"A happy Scottish child." The 
dominie was somewhat disconcerted, and queru- 
lously remarked, " You have not sung the exact 
words of the last line. What's the meaning of 
that?" After a little pause, Peter Hutcheon (I 
think), a clever, sturdy loon, replied : " We're 
nae gaun to sing a lee 1" "Cingalee?" echoed the 
schoolmaster, thinking probably of Ceylon, 
"What do you mean?" "Ay, a big lee !" respon- 
ded Peter, emboldened by our approval ; "We're 
a' Scotch here. There's nae an English child i' 
the schule — is there, lads?" (appealing to us). An 
emphatic " No ! " swept round the pupils, so the 
schoolmaster subsided, and did not attempt to 
force an absurd fallacy upon us ; but he had 



a "down" upon Peter, and sharply censured 
him on various occasions. He ought not to 
have tried to mislead us with such a glaring 
deception ; but the strong Scotch common sense 
of the boys nominally under his control was an 
effectual "eye-opener" to him, as he never re- 
peated the experiment. Gallant lads ! Your 
staunch, albeit grotesque, adherence to the 
literal truth in an age of shams and meek 
subserviency to English arrogance yet thrills 
my spirit in my exile, and throws a tender halo 
over memories of long- vanished scenes. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



The Birthplace of George Ridpath 
(2nd S., III., 23, 38, 52, 70). — It is probably rash 
to renew a conflict when the tumult and the 
shouting has long since died down. It is per- 
haps doubly rash to intervene when the com- 
batants are such redoubtable champions as Mr. 
Walter Scott of Stiriing, and Mr. W. B. R. 
Wilson, of Dollar. But one may hazard a blow 
if the cause of battle may be helped. Mr. 
Wilson let his adversary have the last word, 
and seemed to have no authority for his state- 
ment that Ridpath was probably a native of 
Berwickshire except the " Diet Nat Biog." He 
should have gone further, and examined the 
authority on which the " Dictionary " itself 
based its statement That was the introductory 
article to a correspondence between Ridpath 
and Wodrow, the Church historian, printed in 
the Abbotsford Club "Miscellany," Vol. 1.(1838). 
The book was prepared by the secretary of the 
club, Mr. W. B. D. D. Tumbull, who, in the 
preface, acknowledges his "entire" indebtedness 
"for the selection of its contents, illustrative 
remarks, and general superintendence," to no 
less a person than James Maidment. What the 
" Miscellany" says has accordingly some weight. 
It says : "A passage in the pamphlet, of which 
the full title has been given in the note, leads 
to the inference that Ridpath was a native of 
Berwickshire.^' Unfortunately the words used 
in the pamphlet are not quoted, and no inde- 
pendent judgment can therefore be formed on 
their validity. The pamphlet was directed 
against Ridpath, was named "The Spirit of 
Calumny and Slander, etc.," and is dated 1693. 
The Abbotsford writer adds that Ridpath's 
"connection with the Merse is confirmed" by a 
paragraph in his own tract, "The Scots Epis- 
copal Innocence," in which he boasts of his 
family relationships with the county. Some- 
thing more definite might be obtained if the 
above pamphlet was examined. 

EVAN Odd. 



Vol. VIII. 2nci Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



lOl 



"SAWNEY BEANE.'' 

Mr. S. R. Crockett, in his novel, "The Grey 
Man/' giving the adventures of Lancelot Ken- 
nedy, has revived an old lie again in the history 
of Sawney Beane. I presume that the novelist 
considers himself justified in adopting any 
legend, and fashioning his story along with it ; 
bat there ought to be a stratum of truth at the 
bottom. The story of Sawney Beane is a clumsy 
Cockney invention, without any foundation what- 
ever in fact, and Crockett, in utilising it, has 
simply pandered to English prejudice, like 
Andrew Lang and other Anglified Scots. For- 
merly we had Sir Anthony Weldon and other 
English blackguards vilifying our nation, which 
usually failed, despite the grossness of the 
attacks, on account of their brutish ig^norance and 
ridiculous falsity. Now the crafty Englishman 
either employs a hard-up literary Scot to defend 

his own country or recommends the job to him, 
and they have been very successful. Coofs of the 
Henley and Crosland type ^o on an independent 
course — "there is money m it" — but all write 
with a desire to pull us down below the English 
level — and that is low enough. "Sawney Beane" 
is immediately raised to the dignity of a classic, 
and our nation execrated without rhyme or reason. 

A friend showed me some time ago a copy of 
the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle^ dated ist 
August, 1896, and in it there is a circumstantial 
history of Sawney Beane given, extending to 
two columns. The Novocastrian scribe coolly 
premises that the monster cannibal's real name 
was Alexander Bain. How did he know that ? 
By the way, what a delicate and peculiarly 
English compliment that was to Professor Bain 
of Aberdeen, who was then alive. We are then 
informed that Sawney flourished for twenty-five 
years, up to 1603, and over one thousand 
murders are placed to his credit. " How's that 
for high ? " as they say in California. Any 
credulous fool who will believe that egregious 
falsehood is fit for an asylum. 

Strange to say, we cannot get corroborative 
testimony as to the career of this notorious 
villain. None of the histories of Scotland that 
I have read mentions him ; even Andrew Lang 
might have dragged Sawney into his net, but he 
didn't, in those needless volumes of his anent 
Scottish history. Sawney does not appear in 
Pitcairn's "Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland," 
which includes the period of Sawney's ongauns ; 



nor does he appear in the two sets of "Statistical 
Accounts of Scotland." Sinclair's and Black- 
wood's, although smaller affairs, are recorded ; 
nor is Mr. Beane to be found in the various 
Gazetteers and Guide Books of Galloway and 
elsewhere. Very strange, isn't it ? Well, where 
is the chronicle of this infamous wretch to be 
seen ? Alas ! and must the truth be told ? It 
shows up in a cheap paltry Yorkshire miscellany, 
"Lives of Celebrated Highwaymen and Robbers, 
Pirates, etc.," printed by Milner & Sowerby, 
of Halifax. 

This vile book, to a great extent, is the 
English lad's vade mecum or indispensable 
companion, although it has latterly been super- 
seded by Yankee yarns concerning the doings of 
"Deadwood Dick." To the ordinary English 
mind their real heroes are Jack Sheppard, Dick 
Turpin, Jerry Abershaw, and others of that ilk. 
Gloating over the deeds of such ruffians, the 
hope is engendered that they may one day 
achieve similar renown. Having so many 
English scoundrels to record, the compiler of 
the Halifax volume patriotically wrote or got 
written for his collection the veracious story of 
Sawney Beane. There is a Grub Street flavour 
about the narrative, which plainly indicates its 
Cockney origin, something akin to "Sweeny 
Todd," the demon barber of Gray's Inn Lane, 
who entrapped his customers, and supplied their 
bodies to a noted pork-pie shop on the opposite 
side, through a subway or tunnel under the street. 

Of course, when a young fellow in England 
I was confronted and affronted with this stupid 
lie about Sawney Beane I denounced it as a 
fabrication ; then the cheap catchpenny public- 
ation was shown to me. Would I dare to 
dispute that ? But I did, and denounced it like- 
wise. My denials went for nothing. They said 
so sympathetically that the whole of Scotland 
was in league to " keep it dark," and so on, " we 
love Scotland more than the truth," and other 
Johnsonian diatribes. There, you see, let any 
English wastrel circulate a trashy falsehood to 
the detriment of an entire nation the vagabond 
will receive credence, and the lie will flourish, 
simply because they want it so. It never dawns 
upon their besotted brains that they have been 
duped and deceived— oh, dear, no ! 

When I reflect upon this atrocious calumny, I 
often think of those passages of Scripture that a 
dear deceased relative of mine used to repeat, 
in 2 Thess., ii., 11, and Jude 10. 

If any correspondent has trustworthy infor- 
mation to communicate concerning the writer of 
the Sawney Beane romance, will he be pleased 
to disseminate it ? 



Melbourne, Australia. 



Alba. 



I02 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



ALEXANDER GORDON, EXECUTED 

AT BREST. 



Alexander Gordon of Wardhouse, who was 
executed at Brest, November 29, 1769, on the 
charge of espionage, has already been dealt 
with by me in the Aberdeen Free Press of 
August 26, 1898, under the title "An Aberdeen- 
shire Dreyfus." That article was largely 
based on two articles in BentUys Magciziney 
November and December, 1868. I have recently 
discovered what seems to be the source of the 
latter articles, namely, a long account of the 
trial (" Proces d' Alexandre Gordon, Espion 
Anglais, d^capit^ k Brest en 1769") in the 
" Bulletin de la Soci^td Academique de Brest," 
tom. I., pp. 295-360, published in 1861. The 
contribution was communicated to the Academy 
on November 28, 1869, by P. Levot, who was 
" Conservateur de la Bibliothdque du Port, 
Correspondant du Ministere de ^Instruction 
Publique pour les Travaux Historiques." He 
treats the matter from a totally French point of 
view. 

The peace of 1763 was not at all satisfactory 
to England, and it became the constant business 
of officers of that country to check any attempt 
France made to rise from its sunken position. 
The French forts, and, above all, that of Brest, 
were the object of incessant espionage. Thus an 
example had to be made of some culprit. It 
came about in the person of young Gordon (his 
age is given by Levot as 21}, whose youth and 
personal qualities roused general sympathy. 
His culpability has often been questioned. It 
has been said that he died on account of the 
resentment of M. de Clugny, whose mistress he 
charmed and got on mtimate terms with. 
Another version is that of M. G. Villeneuve, 
who represents Gordon as sacrificed to an 
intrigue conducted by the royal concubine of 
the day, under pretext of a ridiculous and use- 
less espionage. Yet another explanation is that 
the judges, bought over by money or promise of 
extra dignities, became the odious instruments 
of private ill-will. M. Levot declares that all 
these propositions fall to the ground before the 
line of indisputable facts confirmed in due 
course by the evidence of Gordon himself. 

It was common at this time that prosecutor 
and judge should be one person. Hence M. de 
Clugny, because he found it right to have 
Gordon put under arrest, was not without his 
rights in also trying him. Gordon had got in 
tow with a young French surgeon, Jean Antoine 
Durand, who went to Brest and put up at the 
Hotel du Grand Turc, occupied by a woman 



Carion. His protest was that he wanted to see 
the Hospital of Marines, and that he had come 
to replace one M. Savary. He disappeared for 
a brief space, returning to the town at a 
different point, and put up at the Hotel Grand 
Monarque, kept by a woman Herber. In six days' 
time he left for St. Malo, where he was rejoined 
by Gordon. Armed with a passport from M. 
Scott, they went about sight-seeing for about 
fifteen days, not to St. Malo only, but also to the 
forts of La Conch^e, Saint-Servan, Cancale, 
Saint-Cast, etc., and everywhere took notes, 
which they put in order on their return to the inn. 
Then Durand left for Nantes, where they 
were to meet again about the end of May or the 
beginning of June, and Gordon went on to Brest 
Gordon stayed in the Place Medisance with 
M. Francois- Benjamin Bordier, clockmaker, 
in whose house Durand had taken two rooms 
for him at ;£3o per month. M. Levot gives a 
mass of other minute particulars. 

May I suggest that some of our pro- French 
young enthusiasts who have more time at their 
disposal than myself should translate Levot's 
sixty-five page article for publication locally? 
The entente corduile would make it piquant 
reading to-day. 

I may note as a typical instance of the ex- 
traordinary dearth of local news— or was it an 
equally extraordinary sense of good taste? — that, 
though the Aberdeen Journal of December 25, 
1769, contains a reference (among the foreign 
intelligence) to the execution of young Gordon, 
no reference is made to his connection with 
Aberdeenshire ! J. M. B. 

* 

Irishmen with Norman Names.— It is 
stated in Irish history that when the Norman 
invaders intermarried with the daughters of Erin 
the children of such unions became more Irish 
than the Irish themselves. I am forcibly re- 
minded of this fact in Australia, for I have 
known, and some of them intimately, the follow- 
ing persons, all Irish or of Irish descent, and 
mainly Catholics, bearing unmistakable Norman 
or old English names : — Peter Marmion, Lancelot 
Cheney, Digby Lacey, Marcus Pym, James 
Conway, Michael Prendergast, Aloysius Ber- 
mingham, Robert Devereux, Owen Talbot, 
Lewis Bolingbroke, Felix Lavalle, Gerald Filz- 
gibbon, Denis Desmond, Timothy Davern 
(d*Auvergne ?), Francis Stafford, Luke Prender, 
Bernard Carew, John Molyneux, Hubert Stanley, 
Redmond Prenderville, and others. Having 
to read the electoral rolls of the colony, I 
made notes of very strange names, which I may 
tiansmit by-and-by. 
Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



103 



BRODIES, LAWRANCES, AND MUR- 
DOCHS IN 1745. 



The undernoted is a list of the above sur- 
names of those who appear to have been con- 
cerned in the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, and to 
have given evidence in some cases. All are 
interesting to me, and I shall feel obliged if any 
reader lets me know of any descendants of those 
mentioned in the list, which was printed for the 
Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, in 1890 : — 

David Brodie, chaplain to Lady Blantyre, Leading- 
ton ; said to have carried arms in the rebel service 
at the battle of Preston ; supposed at hand. (Had- 
dington district, p. 134. ) 

Fra. Brodie, clerk in Alloa Custom House; along 
with James Hatg, inkeeper in Alloa ; Tho. Pater- 
son. Excise officer in Clackmanan, gave evidence 
against John Murray, clerk to collector of Customs, 
Alloa. (Dunfermline district, p. 349. ) 

James Brodie, Esq., Muresk, and Mr. Fiddes, his 
chaplain, both in Turriff parish, gave evidence 
against John Gillispie, Jr., Turriff. (Banff district, 

P- 309-) 
John Bredy, labourer. Bridge of Don, Oldmachar, 
Co. Aberdeen, carried arms at the battle of Cul- 
loden; lurking. (Aberdeen district, p. 4.) 

Robert Bresdie (Bredie in index), indweller, Muthil, 
Co. Perth, pressed out by Lord Drummond, but 
returned and at a hand. (Perth district, p. 42. ) 

Robert Bresdie (or Brydie). This may be the person 
whose birth is recorded in the Episcopal register of 
baptisms for Muthil on 15th January, 1724, as son 
of John Brady and Jean Ure. (Perth district. Ap- 
pendix II., p. 370.) 

Simon Brodie, lived in Templand, carried arms in the 
rebel service. (Ross district, p. 72.) 

Walter Brodie, shoemaker, Blance, joined the rebel 
army and gave information upon the neighbour- 
hood of concealed arms; not known. (Hadding- 
ton district, p. 134.) 

Willm. Brodie, gunsmith, Canongate, beat up and 
recruited men and levied money in the county for 
the rebel service; lurking in town. (Edinburgh 
district, p. 244.) 

Same as above. Evidence given by Nin. Trot- 
ter, Geo. Robertson, and Fra. Pringle, Excise 
officers. (P. 388.) 

James Laurance, piper, Clochnahill, Dunottre, Kin- 
cardin, voluntary served with the rebells with his 
musick and went with them ; lurking. (Montrose 
district, p. 176.) 

John Lawrance, mason, Keith, County Banff, private 
man hald out ; lurking. (Banff district, p. 32.) 

John Laurence, merchant. Old Deer, County Aber- 
deen, proclaimed the Pretender at the Market Cross 
of Old Deer, enlisted some men for his service and 



joined them himself in their retreat to the High- 
lands. (Oldmeldrum district, pp. 92, 93. ) 

John Lawrence at Old Deer, John Webster in 
Clockean, John Dalgarno in New Deer, and James 
Arthur in Kinninmont gave evidence against Alex. 
Cumming, farmer, Meikle Crichie, Old Deer, 
County Aberdeen ; 600 stock. (Oldmeldrum dis- 
trict, p. 303.) 

John Lawrence in Old Deer, John Dalgarno in New 
Deer, and James Forbes in Turnerhall House in 
Ellon parish gave evidence against Adam Hay oi 
Cairnbanno, New Deer, Co. Aberdeen ; £50 yearly 
rent ; bad mansion-house. (Oldmeldrum district, 

p. 305)- 
Willm. Murdoch, wool merchant, Callendar, Co. 
Perth, acted as ensign in the rebel army; was 
thrice forced out, and as often deserted : now at 
hand. (Stirling district, p. 58.) 

At page 369 of the work whence the above 
extracts are taken it appears that John Gordon 
of Glenbuchat joined the Pretender's army soon 
after the battle of Prestonpans. He had under 
command a numerous body of select gentlemen 
and private people {Caledonian Mercury^ Wed- 
nesday, September 25, 1745}. Another refer- 
ence to the old Tower family is reported at page 
305, where Alexander Tower, John Sey, and 
Alex. Mathison, all in Old Rain, gave evidence 
against Laurence Leith, farmer, Leith-hall, Kin- 
ethmond, Co. Aberdeen. 

Robert Murdoch. 



ABERDONIANS ABROAD: 
HENRY FARQUHARSON. 



The very interesting account, in the Decem- 
ber number of Scottisli Notes and Queries^ of 
Hary or Henry Farquharson, distinguished and 
almost illustrious as *'the first professor of 
mathematics and navigation in Russia, and 
during forty years (down to his death in 1739) 
the chief instructor of the naval men of that 
country,*' closes with the conjecture by Mr. 
Kellas Johnstone that, "from the pre-name Hary 
or Henry, Farquharscm was a cadet of the house 
of Allargue." This surmise is a mistake. As it 
happens, there is no difficulty in identifying the 
individual in question, and tracing his descent 
for four generations. 

Let it be premised that the Farquharsons 
were a comparatively modern clan. Practically, 
the founder of it was Finlay Mor, a "kindly 
tenant" or Crown rentaller in Braemar, who was 
killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1 547, and after 
whom it came to be named the Clan Fhionn- 
laidh. The statements which figure in Douglas's 



104 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



Qanuary, 1907 



*' Baronage,'' and are adopted in Burke's books, 
concerning the generations anterior to Finlay 
Mor, are a medley of vainglorious nonsense for 
which there is not a scrap of proo^ while those 
concerning the generations which came after 
him are chock-full of inaccuracies. The account 
of the latter generations, according to the most 
authentic and trustworthy genealogies of the 
clan, is briefly as follows : — Finlay Mor was 
twice married, having four sons by die first wife 
and five by the second. The three eldest sons 
died without male issue, and the fourth, leaving 
Braemar, settled at Craigniety in Glenisla. Of 
the second marriage the eldest son, undoubtedly, 
was Donald in Castleton of Braemar and of 
TuUigarmouth ; the second, Robert in Inver- 
cauld ; the third, Lachlan of Broughdearg ; the 
fourth, George of Deskrie and Glenconry ; and 
the fifth, Finlay of Achriachan. 

Donald of Castleton and TuUigarmouth mar- 
ried, for his first wife, Jean Ogilvie, daughter to 
Newton, by whom he had seven sons — Donald, 
his successor, afterwards of Monaltrie ; Robert 
of Finzean, Alexander of Allanaquoich, James of 
Invercy, John of Tillicairn, George in Miltown 
of Whitehouse in Cromar, and Thomas, who 
" went abroad to the wars." 

The sixth son, George in Milltown of White- 
house, had three sons — George, Donald, and 
David. George had two sons, of whom the 
elder, Thomas, was " a merchant in Aberdeen " 
(perhaps the founder of the firm of Farquharson 
and Co.) 

The second son of the three above named- 
Donald — had three sons — Robert, John, and 
Hary. Robert was a seaman ; John a soldier in 
Ireland ; ** Hary was one of those the late Czar 
of Muscovy, Peter Alexowitz, sent over from 
London to teach mathematics in his country, 
and now" (/>., A.D., 1733) "teaches navigation 
in the Imperial College of Petersburg." 

It may be added that, so far as observed, " the 
pre-name Hary or Henry" does not appear at 
all in the Allargue branch of the clan. 

J. F. 
* 

The Heir Male of the Lords Forbes 
OF PiTSLiGO (2nd S., VI., 135 ; VII., 29).— 
There appears to be some discrepancy in dates 
in the late Mr. William Troup's account of the 
descendants of Mr. Arthur Forbes of Meikle 
Wardes. Thus, Arthur is stated to have died 
before 9th April, 1606, whilst John, in Keithack, 
his seventh (?) and youngest son, is stated to 
have been born in 161 3 1 It is to be observed 
also that both Mathew Lumsden and Macfar- 
lane are in accord that Arthur's son, John, died 
without issue, " W. L. F.," in the August, 1905, 



number, gave an extract from a letter, from 
which it appears that an Arthur Forbes settled 
at Keithack, in the parish of Mortlach, and that 
he had an only son, John, who married a daugh- 
ter of David Stuart, of Achmore. In view of 
this information (which helps to dispose of the 
discrepancy above mentioned), John must have 
been a grandson of "Mr. Arthur," of Meikle 
Wardes, and the son of either (i) James, of 
Bankheadj or (2) Patrick, of Blackball, each of 
them havmg had a son named Arthur, and 
respecting neither of these are any particulars 
given in Mr. W. Troup's account. In the 
Charlton MS. it is stated that David's daughter 
"married John Forbes, of Keithack, son to 
Gordon Arthur Forbes, and left several children," 
which seems to raise a further question as to 
the identity of John's father. H. D. McW. 

Eliza Inverarity.— I owe Mr. David 
Baptie an apology for stating that I could not 
find a memoir of this songstress in his " Musical 
Scotland," and I freely tender it There is a 
slight notice of her under the name " Martyn," 
at the bottom of page 117, which I must have 
overlooked. I did not remember that Miss 
Inverarit/s husband's name was Martyn ; but 
as I was groping for something else amongst my 
notebooks, I was surprised to find an entry which 
I had taken from the Gentlemof^s Magazine 
fully twenty years back, an exemplification of 
the old Scottish adage, "As ae door steeks anither 
opens," for I did not find what I looked for. 
It was to the effect that Mrs. Charles Martyn, 
better known as Miss Inverarity, died at 
Ne wcas tie-on -Tyne in 1844, aged 33 : her bus- 
band was a basso vocalist. My informant, the 
late James March, was mistaken as to her age 
and year of death, but he was scrupulously 
correct as to her wondrous powers of song and 
the effect it had upon Scottish audiences. Poor 

lady! 

ImprisonM in a sooty cage, 

Alang the coaly Tyne, 
Our mavis tyn'd its cheery strain, 
An' soon begoud to dwyne. 
Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

Rhyme on Gold. — Some years ago I used 
to hear the undernoted rhyme on gold. The 
gentleman who repeated it always paid his 
accounts in gold (notes he could not tolerate), 
and as the writer held out his hand for payment 
this rhyme was repeated : — 

I love to hear the jingle, 

And I love to see the roll, 
But there's nothing half so pleasant 

As the precious metal gold. 

RoBBRT Murdoch. 



■^^ 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



105 



FORFARSHIRE AS A FACTOR IN 
SCOTTISH LIFE AND THOUGHT. 

(Continued from 2nd S., VIII., p. 84, J 



I have referred to the fact that Forfarshire, 
and, indeed, the whole East of Scotland, supplied 
both the Low Countries and Germany with many 
of the bravest soldiers and the most skilful 
leaders in the great Frotestant struggles against 
the Spaniards and latterly against the Austrians 
and the French. It is recorded, as an evidence 
of the gallantry of the Scottish Brigade in these 
wars, that during the Thirty Years' War the 
Dutch (i,e.y the Germans) in the service of 
Gustavus were many times glad to beat the old 
Scots march when they designed to frighten 
the enemy. On many a distant Continental 
battlefield that air had announced the unfaltering 
advance of the Scottish Foot and the red 
uniforms of the British. Brigade to face 
unflinchingly the fiery charge of the chivalry 
of France. So highly, indeed, were the Scots 
regiments valued in Holland that, from the time 
of Elizabeth down to the middle of the 18th 
century, the Government of that country never 
ceased to maintain a Scottish Brigade as the 
backbone of their army, while the Prince of 
Orange had such a respect for their military 
qualities that he called them *Hhe bulwark of 
Holland." Now, to that Scots Brigade the 
county of Forfar all along contributed its full 
tale both of ofHcers and private soldiers. No 
one can deny, therefore, that the people of Angus 
have been a brave, generous, and hardy people. 
The truth is, that there is no nation in Europe 
and scarcely a country in the world which 
cannot furnish instances of worthy deeds and 
heroic actions performed by natives of this shire, 
who have been honoured or employed in the 
greatest trusts in later or former ages. And they 
have not been confined to single persons, starting 
up now and then (which may and does happen 
even in the most backward countries and among 
otherwise dastardly men), but they have con- 
stantly behaved themselves well. We conclude, 
therefore, that the men of Angus have no cause 
to shrink from comparing themselves with the 
men of any other part of Scotland. The Borders 
and the South-west country may have greater 
poets and more powerful leaders to boast of, 
the Lothians and Fifeshire may eclipse all the 
rest of the country in the number of their 
statesmen and thinkers, but Forfarshire, if she 
must take a second place as compared with 
these nurseries of genius, at least can hold her 
own with any other district of Scotland, even 



with Aberdeen and Perth. For, in the homely 
lines in which James Beattie, one of the best 
representatives of the talent of this region, has 
nobly asserted the genius of his countrymen, we 
may still say with all confidence that though 

The Southland chields indeed hae mettle, 
And brawly at a sang can ettle, 
Yet we right couthily might settle 

O* this side Forth. 
The devil pay them wi* a pettle 

That slight the North. 
Our countrie lied is far frae barren, 
It*8 e'en richt pithy and auld farren. 
Ourselves are neiperlike, I warran\ 

For sense and smergh. 

In kittle times when faes are yarring 

We're no thocht ergh. 
Oh ! bonny are our greensward hows, 
Where through the glen the burnie rows, 
Where the bee bums and the ox lows 
And soft winds rustle, 
And shepherd lads on sunny knowes 

Blaw the blythe fustle. 

Happy country where scenes like these are 
universal, and m which there is not a province 
and scarcely a parish which cannot recall with 
gratitude and pride the contributions it has 
individually made to the honourable achieve- 
ments of a great and splendid history. What 
worthy son of such a glorious land but must 
fervently re-echo as his own the noble prayer 
with which our great national bard closes his 
beautiful poem of " The Cotter's Saturday 
Night." The prayer, I mean, that asks that — 

He who poured the patriotic tide 

That streamed through Wallace's undaunted 
Who dared to nobly stem tyrannic pride, [heart ; 

Or nobly die, the second glorious part. 

May never, never Scotia's realm desert, 

But still the patriot, and the patriot bard 
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard ! 

W. B. R. W. 



MACPHERSON LETTERS.— IV. 
(2nd S., VII., p, 167; VIII., pp. 2, 15.) 



It may have been noticed that the letters 
written by Macphersons which have recently 
appeared m these columns indicate that each of 
the writers was concerned in procuring supplies 
of meal from a district somewhat remote from 
Badenoch. The explanation of this is doubtless 
to be found in the "New Statistical Account, 



io6 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



Inverness-shire " (p. 79), where, respecting the 
parish of Kingussie, it is remarked : "Although 
the parish, as before noticed, must always be 
more a pastoral than an agricultural one, and 
though the utmost extent of improvable soil 
is, and must always be, far exceeded by the 
extent of mountain and other land incapable of 
cultivation, still, were the part of the parish 
which can be cultivated to be brought under a 
system of regular rotation, it might be nearly, if 
not entirely, adequate to the supply of the wants 
of the population, a good which has never yet 
been accomplished. Nothing has proved more 
ruinous to this parish than the necessity of 
bringing meal from other districts, with the 
additional expense of a long land carriage." 
In the Survey of the province of Moray (p. 257), 
it is said of the same parish : " Barley, oats, rye, 
and potatoe are the produce of the cultivated 
ground ; but the quantity obtained is not suffi- 
cient for the support of the inhabitants." To 
some extent, no doubt, the supplies referred to 
in the letters were required for the barracks at 
Ruthven, and, as appears from the following 
letter (being the one alluded to in Tammore's 
letter to Cluny, printed in the July number as 
an "unsubscrived" letter of Malcolm McPherson 
in Crubinmore), also for the use of the" Watch": — 

Sir 
Please Deliver to the bearer fourteen bolls 
of the Twnty Contained in Clunnies Draught 
upon you Deliverable to me, The meall being for 
the use of the watch, and Some of the men 
happenM Upon ane oyr turn Coud Not Send for 
the Ballance Yrfor yowll Send Your Line to me 
for the oyr Six Deliverable as formerly, The 
Draught for the whole being sent you is all from 

Sir 
Your most humble Sert 

[No signature.] 
Crubin the 29 July 

1745 
Excuse beast 

Endorsed : — 

To 
Robert Grant off 

Tammore Esqr : 
Also : I 

Send one boll more than fourteen . . . 

It should have been stated that John Duff's , 
letter, which appeared in the November number, 
was addressed to Tammore, and the following 
letter affords further light on the affair of the 
" Watch " :— 

D' Sir 

I saw Cluny Monday and payd him what 
money I collected and took his Recept for the 



Same. Tm much oblidged to you for being at the 
trouble to talk to him in my Favours : I shall be 
glad of an opportunity to Serve you. If he 
returns here in his way from Banff where he 
presently is, Shall pay him the first mytie due 
out of Capt: Grant's Valued Rent and Others 
mentioned m your Letter. Willie's Shoes will not 
be ready untill Friday. Receive Baillie Grant's 
Discharge for the lew payable furth of Easter 
Elchies, and am with Offer of my Compliements 
to M'» Grant and Willie 

Sir 
Your Most Oblidge'd Hum» Ser^ 

John Duff Jun^ 
Elgin June 19^ 

1745 

Valued Bent whole Watch 
muney 

Freefield and Collie . . £103 13 2 ;f o 2 7^ 

Easter Elchies .... 314 i 6 07 lo^ 
Lordship of Rothes, Dun' 

included ii376 42 i 14 4 

Lord Elchies Valued Rent 

in Banff ..... 350 00 o 8 g 

Ballindallach .... 292 08 073^ 

Kirdles 426 10 o o 10 7J 

Struthers 475 5 4 o ii loA 

Ballidallach's Valued Rent 

in Banff 1,383 6 8 i 14 6 

Endorsed : — 
To 
Robert Grant 
of Tamore Esqr 

Also, in Tam morels writing : — 

igth June 1745. Jo : Duff, Dept Collector of the 
Cess annent the watch money. 

Mr. Duff also wrote to Tammore on the 
subject on 24th July, 1745, as follows :— 

I got M' Mcpherson's Recept for the ;f 5 Sent 
yesterday, and you have Inclos'd your letters 
promising to procure me M' M^'pherson's Recepts 
for the money Sent on Cluny's Acco* and have 
cutt of a part of both which contained a line from 
Mr Mcpherson calling for some things. 

The Mr. McPherson here referred to, and also 
in Mr. DufTs letter printed in the November 
number, was probably John McPherson, barrack- 
mjisler at Ruthven, who, on two tombstones in 
Kingussie Churchyard to the memory of his 
children, John and Jean, is styled "of Knappach." 
John Duff, senior^ merchant, was provost of 
Elgin from 1746 to 1749, and John Duff, 
merchant, presumably son of the former and 
the writer of the letters to Tammore, was 
provost from 1771 to 1774, 1775 to 1778, 1779 to 
1782, 1785 to 1788, and 1791 to 1792. 

H. D. Mow. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



107 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc) 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol. VIII., p, 74.) 

[Supplementary.] 

1720. The Caledonian Mercury. (Continued). In 
1786 the paper assumed the Flying Mercury as its 
emblem, and it bore the device for some time. On 
August I, 1789, the price was again raised by one 
halfpenny because of an increase in the newspaper 
tax. The Mercury congratulated itself on the 
amount, for under the same circumstances the 
London papers had advanced their price by one 
penny. The Act did not "permit of allowance 
on returned stamps of unsold papers," and ac- 
cordingly the Mercury announced that only the 
number ordered would be printed. 

Robertson retired from the paper on July i, 1790, 
disposing, as he said, of the right to publish to 

"his friend, Mr. Robert Allan, whose abilities and 
attention are well Icnown, and to whose extensiTe cor- 
respondence he has often been indebted for many of 
the earliest and most important articles of intelligence 
communicated in this paper." 

The imprint ran: ''Edinburgh: printed by Robert 
Allan (successor to John Robertson), and sold at 
his printing house, Old Fishmarket Close.'' 

At the opening of the nineteenth century, the 
Caledonian Mercury partook of the general charac- 
teristics of the journals of the time. It was a 
commonplace production, though it did sometimes 
speak in a bolder key than its contemporaries. 
An Edinburgh journalist says : * 

" Whsn I knew the Edinburgh press, editorial or lead- 
ing articles were not regular in the Mercurif, but there 
were summaries of news, with comments and oc- 
casional articles on subjects interesting to Scotland 
and the citizens of Edinburgh. About the year 1809 
there were able articles on the removal of restrictions 
from commerce with France. The principles of Adam 
Smith, or of Free Trade as now popularly received, 
have been always steadily and consistently advocated 
by the Mercury." 

The first leading article, in the modern sense, ap- 
peared in 1839. 

The first editor whose name I have obtained 
was David Buchanan. He held office from 18 10 
to 1827, when he left to take charge of the Courant. 
He was succeeded by James Browne, LL. D. Dr. 
Brown had had previous experience on the Scots 
Magazine and the Correspondent. He was a 
blustering man,t and soon brought his journal 
into conflict with his contemporaries. During 
1829 he made many attacks upon the Scotsman 
and its proprietor in a tone which suggested per- 
sonal animosity. The Scotsmcui tried repeatedly 
to bring these recurring personalities to an end, 
and in September actually succeeded in extracting 



* "A Printer's Keniinisccnces," in Lei^nre Hour^ Feb., 1867. 
t See Biaetwood'g sketch of him under the name of " Colonel ' 

Cloud," 1825. 



permission to print in its own columns a promise 
on the part ot the Mercury that they would cease. 
But the truce lasted for a few days only. The 
Scotsman held its hand as long as possible, and 
then struck with all its might. It printed the 
whole correspondence between the owners of the 
two journals, and added a vitriolic article upon 
Browne himself. It roundly accused him of politi- 
cal dishonesty, declaring at the same time he was 
deliberately untruthful and unscrupulous. Among 
other things, it said Browne '* outraged private 
feelings, sported with truth, and raised up ani- 
mosities by reckless and unprovoked attacks on 
his neighbours." To render mistake impossible, 
Maclaren, the editor of the Scotsman, sent a com- 
munication to Browne informing him that he was 
the author of the attack. The inevitable result 
followed, and a meeting was arranged for the 
morning of November 12, 1829. Fire was ex- 
changed without damage to the combatants, and 
honour was declared satisfied, although apology 
was refused. So far as Browne was concerned, 
the matter does not seem to have ended with the 
duel. He quarrelled with the proprietor of the 
Mercury, and forsook the paper to set up the North 
Briton. When that journal had run its brief 
career, he returned to the Mercury. His second 
term was short, for the proprietor took care to 
exercise due supervision over the articles, and this 
did not suit Browne. He was followed by a Mr. 
Cochrane, who had done editorial work on the 
Foreign Quarterly Reviciv, and who held office 
for three years. When the article on the Edin- 
burgh newspapers appeared in Fraser^s Magazine 
in 1838, the editorship was in abeyance. It 

*' happens at this present moment to be without an 
editor, l)eiug conducted by a knot of young Whig 
lawyers, suckling politicians, and expectant commis- 
sioners, who, gratuitously it is said, furnish the 
requisite leaders, etc. . . . Owing to its slavish 
adherence to the pseudo-Liberalism of the day, it has 
lost a good deal of its standing and influence in Edin- 
burgli. It is very economically conducted, and is to 
say Uio truth, a poor concern " 

— which is perhaps seeing the journal through 
party spectacles. Subsequent editors were a son 
of Buchanan, James Dundas White, and W. 
Downing Bruce. In 1852 the imprint was: "Printed 
and published for the proprietors at the ofHce, 
265 High Street, in the parish of the High Church, 
in the county of Edinburgh, by Thomas Allan of 
No. 20 St. Andrews Square, in the parish of St. 
Andrews, in the county of Edinburgh." In 1859 
the imprint bore that the paper was printed and 
published for the firm by William Lindsay. 

James Robie, an Irishman, came to take charge 
of the journal in 1856. Under his management 
an important modification was made in the style 
of the Mercury. On August 29, 1859, it appeared 
as The Caledonian Mercury and Daily Express. 
The latter journal had for some time been in 
distress, and various vain efforts had been made 
to dispose of it by sale. From the Mercury^ s 
notice of the union, no one would have guessed 



lo8 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



that the Expnss was otherwise than in a flourish- 
ing condition. It said that the incorporation was 

"owing to the growth of advertiaemontB in their 
columiift, and the difficulty of meeting all the demands 
on their space in the way of correspoudenoe and news" 

— a reason which, to the common man, would 
seem a good one for keeping the two journals 
apart. The Mercury made the occasion one for 
enlarging its size by four columns, and for an- 
nouncing its policy as that of '* sound Liberalism, 
coupled with sound morality and religion." At 
the same date the two weekly journals, issued 
from the two offices, were also amalgamated, this 
time the Expresses offshoot taking precedence in 
the title, which became the Weekly Herald, To 
round off the transaction, the proprietors declared 
that ** the circulation of the two papers combined 
will be, it is believed, more than four times greater 
than any weekly journal in the city." The second 
half of the name of the parent journal was dropped 
after a few weeks. 

When Robie become editor, the paper was 
generally regarded as moribund. It was thought 
of as "commercially weak and politically dead." 
In the year preceding the new editor's advent, the 
loss had been ;£'i,76o. Robie's vigorous work, 
however, did much to resuscitate its fortunes, and 
he gradually brought it to paying point. On 
January 7, 1861 — the pseudo-centenary of the 
paper — an unusually outspoken article on the 
standing of the journal appeared. Among other 
things it said : 

" It would be worse than folly were we on an occasion 
like the present to attempt to disguise the fact that 
the Caieaonian Mercury of late years changed to some 
extent its policies and principles, and that it is now 
on a variety of questions— ix>litlcal, social, and re- 
ligious—very much the opposite of what it formerly 
was. The simple matter of fact Is the Mercury, owing 
to a variety of circumstances, had almost ceased to be 
regarded as having principles worth eneii^tic support, 
ur entitling itself to be supported. It had got into a 
'feckless' sort of existence, satisfactory enough to a 
certain class of canna-be-fashed readers in town and 
comity : it wanted something calculated to enlist the 
sympathies and command the support of the Scottish 
people. To what state It had been reduced in this 
city it is not for us to say : our opponents, however, as 
well as our friends, will, we think, readily acknowledge 
that they did not expect it to live another century, 
that they were not unimpressed by reports sedulously 
and maliciously circulated that Its days were numbered, 
and that these days could not at the time exceed a 
few weeks, months, or possibly a year." 

The proprietors, however, say that a change had 
come, and that 

" the Mercury has never been, during the two centuries 
of its history, on so firm a footing, and in so prosperous 
a condition as to circulation and advertising, as it is 
at this moment, and has been during the past twelve 
months." 

The cock-crowing was somewhat premature. 
Three months afterwards the Daily Review was 
started, nominally as the opponent of the Scotsman 
but in reality of the Mercury, although both the 
Review and the Mercury were supposed to be 
supporters of the Free Church. Kobie was offered 



the editorship ol the new venture, but declined. 
The Mercury was hard struck, and the closing 
struggle of the venerable print almost immediately 
began. 

In 1862 Thomas Allan transferred the journal 
to his brother Robert, who retained it only for a 
short time, when the family ended their connec- 
tion with it. The editor explained Allan's with- 
drawal in the following terms : 

" The chief reason he assigned to me being that the 
principles I was snpporthig and the men with whom I 
was most intimat^y associated were prejudicially 
affecting him in his business as a stockbrtriter. and 
that he could not any longer afford to go on fighting 
on commercial principles beside so prosperous a paper 
as the Scotsman, and In face of so largely subsidised a 
concern as the oiigao of the Free Church, which, he 
remarked at the time, had first come down to a bawbee 
and then gone up to a double sheet daily at a penny, 
determined apparently at all risks to beat him out of 
the field." 

The new proprietor was none other than James 
Robie himselL According to the statements made 
in the Mercury, the transference was an act in- 
spired by the warmest regard for and confidence 
in the editor. The public announcement stated 
that 

" llie late proprietor, finding his profeasional business 
so onerous as to demand all his attention and time, 
and tiddng Into consideration the character of our 
own labours since our connection with the journal, 
has handed over to us the Mercury in a spirit and on 
terms the friendliness and liberality of which we 
would fall suitably to characterise.*' 

It would appear that Robie paid ;^ 1,250 for the 
paper, and his name was given in the imprint as 
proprietor for the first time on Saturday, April 5, 
1862. As ii to adumbrate the journal's subsequent 
fate, a scroll title of oak leaves, which recalled a 
similar device in the Scotsnum, was at the same 
time adopted. 

Robie's subsequent connection with the Mercury 
was most unhappy. The paper failed to pay, and 
his monetary transactions at the time of the trans- 
ference and afterwards gave rise to an embittered 
pamphlet* and newspaper controversy. Robie 
maintained that he had been entrapped into ac- 
cepting the proprietorship by unfulfilled promises 
of support from the Radicals of Edinburgh. They, 
on the other hand, held that the transaction was 
a purely private one, and that the money they had 
furnished was lent and not given outright. The 
end was that in 1866 Robie was declared bank- 
rupt, and surrendered the paper. 

The Mercury was acquired by William Saunders, 
and the new imprint appeared on Monday, July 2. 
It ran : ** Printed and published by William Hunt, 
No. 257 High Street, in the parish of the High 
Church of Edinburgh" — an imprint practically 
maintained to the end. 



*"The Representative Radicals of Edinburgh," by James 
Robie. Edinburgh : \V. P. Nimmo, 1867. 56 pp., Bvo, 

yrlce one shilling. "Reply to the Attempt made by Mr. 
ames Robie to Extort £1,100 by means oi a Threatening 
I^etter," by Duncan ^fcLaren, Esq. (M.P.]. Edinborgh: 
Wm. Ollphant A Co., 1867. 28 pp., 8vo. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



109 



" Mr. iSannders was the proprietor of an estabUtihinent 
tn London, at which the news of each day was pre- 
pared by an organised staff, and leading articles written 
on the principal current topics. The matter thus 
furnished was set up in type, stereotyped, and sent to 
Pl>'niouth, Hull, Newcastle, and other places in which 
the firm owned papers, or where the proprietors of 
other newspapers were willing to pay for the com- 
modity. As many as eight columns of stereotyped 
general news, summary, and leaders were thus pro- 
vided daily."— Norrie's "Newspapers," p. 6. 

The Mirctity was added to this list, and at the 
same time (July 2) an evening edition was also 
sent ont at 4*30, price |d., the avowed object of 
which was to improve the circulation of news on 
local matters. This arrangement continued for a 
fortnight only, and on Monday, July 16, 1866, the 
Mercury appeared wholly as an evening paper, 
4 PPm 5 columns to the page, and in a smaller 
folio. The price was ^d. The proprietor said 
that his fortnight's experience had ''proved beyond 
controversy that Edinburgh requires an evening 
newspaper." 

The city did perhaps require such a journal, but 
evidently the Mercury was not fitted to supply the 
need. For nearly a year the attempt was made, 
but the struggle against adversity could not be 
maintained, and the Mercury had to give way. 
In the valedictory leader the reason is frankly and 
facetiously stated as being the same as that of the 
governor of Antwerp for not firing a salute — want 
of powder. The last number was issued April 20, 
1867, and in announcing the end the editor said : 

" It is unnecessary to enter into any detailed explana- 
tion of the causes that have combined to Induce the 
conductors to take this step. The succeu of the 
CdUdoman Mercury as a paper, and under its present 
management, has been considerable, but it has been 
found impossible to carry on without i>ecnniary loss 
the publication of a paper at so low a price as kd. 
Another cause which has largely contributed to this 
result has been the great extension of the telegraphic 
arrangements of the morning papers, and especially 
the successful efforts of the Seoteman to rival the 
London morning papers in the fullness and earliness 
of its news. By these arrangements intelligence, pub- 
lished in other towns in the afternoon, has been very 
generally anticipated here in the morning, and the 
evening paper, though often highly useful in the one 
case. Is thus almost unnecessary in the other." 

The reference to the Scotsman is explained by the 
fact that that prosperous journal had bought the 
Mercury, The name of the defunct paper was 
allowed for a time to appear as a sub-title of the 
Weekly Scotsman^ but it ultimately was dropped 
there too. Thus died the venerable journal known 
for long as '* Granny Mercury," because of its age 
and simple manners. 



MSS., and, at this distance of lime, may prove 
of some little interest. I have not, so far, ascer- 
tained for whom the Laird of Ballindalloch 
sought to obtain the presentation. The letter 
runs : — 

Sir, — I am favoured with yours of the 31st of July, 
and am extreamely sorry that your Letter has come 
too late only by three weeks, having then given a 
Presentation to a Gentleman's Son of the name of 
Lumsden, who is married to a Gentlewoman of my 
own name and my Cousen. You may believe me 
that I wanted an Opportunity, had your letter come 
timeously, to have done you a favour, you being my 
Father's old Comerad, and one I have a particular 
Kindness and Regard for. 

There were some of the Masters of the New Town 
CoUedge with me here this Summer, who assured me 
that the Bishop of Sarum his Bursaries, Mortified by 
him to that Colledge, would be setled against this 
ensueing Martimass, which are hundred pounds, and 
much better than mine in the King's Colledge ; if 
this happens, I do assure you by this that your friend t 
shall have the Preference to any that shall apply for 
this Presentation, altho he should be a Burnet. And 
if your friend could wait untill the next Burse in the 
King's Colledge shall be vacant, he shall certainly 
have the Presentation from me, or any other you 
shall recommend to me, failing this Bearer your 
fTriend. I shall be very fond to see you here when 
you come to this Country, and believe I am, with 
much Esteem 

D'Sir 
Your very AfTectionat humble Serv* 

A. Burnett 

Leyes 12*'* Aug: 1730 
Endorsed : 
To 
Colonel William Grant 

at his House of 

Bendallach. 

It will be noted that an intimacy had existed 
between the father of the writer of the letter 
and Colonel Grant. Perhaps some reader may 
be able to state whether they had been com- 
panions-in-arms, or under what circumstances so 
special a friendship arose. 

H. D. M*W. 



26 Circus Drive, 
Glasgow. 



W. J. COUPBR. 



The Burnet Bur.sarie.s at Aberdeen.— 
The original'of the subjoined letter touching on 
these bursaries, written by a member of the 
family of Burnet, is preserved with the Tammore 



Aberdeen Arms (2nd S., VI I L, 90).— It has 
been pointed out to me that the pictorial re- 
presentation of the Aberdeen arms obtained 
from the Lyon's oflfice in 1674 has not the three 
turrets on the tops of the three towers, so they 
must be a local idea. The three towers in it are 
each double-towered, as on the old seal ; and f 
there had been another storey rising out of the 
upper, the towers would then have answered to 
the written description. 

John Milne. 



no 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



Still Room (2nd S., VIII., 45, S4, 68).— 
For a long time before 1660 the (iovernment 
did not interfere with the distillation of aqua 
vitae, which till then was used only as a medicine. 
The mistress of a large mansion kept a still 
for distilling lavender water, rose water, pepper- 
mint. Queen of Hungary water, and whisky, all 
on a small scale. But private distillation has 
almost ceased, though a small still licence costs 
only 5s., and yet the name "still room'* remains. 
The plans of Marischal College show a still 
room where liquors are kept, not made, and it 
is a common thing to see an advertisement for 
a still-room maid. Wishing to know the duties 
of this person at the present day, I inquired at 
ladies and looked in dictionaries without be- 
coming much wiser; therefore, on finding a de- 
scription of a still room in|Gwilt's "Encyclopn^dia 
of Architecture,'' I copied it out for the benefit 
of any who, like myself, had experienced diffi- 
culty in finding out the duties of a still-room 
maid. John Milnk, LL.D. 



Quertes. 



80Z. The Gordons of Carroll. — This family 
has been dealt with by Mr. J. M. Bulloch in the 
Ross-shire Journal^ beiijinning September 28, 1906. 
He has, however, omitted two members of the 
family, as noted by the Aberdeen yournal : — 

A>>oiit the 24th of last month, Elizabeth Gordon, Bister 
to Lieut. Robert Gordon of the Navy, and aunt to John 
Gordon of Carroll, died at Tain. (Journal, April 3, 1780.) 

'the })eKinning of this month, died at Inven-harron, 
Ross-shire, Elizabeth (Jordon, a maiden sentlewoman, 
afred about 77. She was the youngest sister of the late 
John Gordon of Carroll, and grand-aunt to the present 
John Gordon, Esci. of Carroll. {Jmirnal, May 2, 1774.) 

Can any reader throw light on these ladies ? 

Ross-shire. 

802. Mrs. Gordon of Craig.— In a recent 
catalogue of Mr. David Johnston, Edinburgh, occurs 
the following entry : — 

Gordon (Mrs., of (.'kaki). -"A Tale (»f other Times," 
in a letter to r^dy Dalryniple, Eiphinstono. Craig, 30th 
March, 1847. 12 pp.,4to. wrapiKM^. 8<rarce, 105. Presen- 
tation to Mr. Cunningham from the authoress. 

No copy is in the British Museum. Where can I 
see one ? And what is the nature of the booklet ? 

J. M. Bulloch. 

803. Dr. George Bethune.— Can any reader 
furnish the date of the death of this American divine, 
who is best known as the author of **The Auld 
Scotch Sangs," and supply any information concern- 



ing him in addition to that given in ** Modern Scot- 
tish Poets"? William Harvey. 

804. '* Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush." — 
The version of this lyric which is most popular is 
that in which the second stanza begins with the 
words "In days of mair simplicity." The late 
Robert Ford, in his "Vagabond Songs and Ballads,*' 
says that it was written by an Edinburgh man, 
whose name I heard but have forgotten." Can any 
reader supply biographical information concerning 
the author? William Harvey. 

805. "A GuiD New Year to Ane an* A*.'' — 
When did Peter Livingstone, the author of this 
popular songf die, and where was he resident at the 
time of his death ? William Harvey. 

806. The Highland Independent Companies. 
— What was the date of raising the first of these 
companies ? Are the records of any of them yet 
extant, and, if so, where are these preserved ? 

H. D. McW. 



BiiBwers. 

595. Lawrance Subscribers to James For- 
dyce's Hymns, 1787 (2nd S., VI., 191). — Will Mr. 
R. Johnston Robertson pardon my seeming neglect 
to answer his query ? I have in preparation for 
publication in instalments in this monthly a list of 
all Lawrances, Lawrences, Lawries, Lowries, and a 
variety of other forms of the surname, which I have 
extracted from the Poll Book of 1696 (lent to me by 
Mr. P. J. Anderson). At the same time I take the 
opportunity of informing Mr. Robertson that, since 
his query appeared, I have letters from several per- 
sons asking for family history details. 

Robert Murdoch. 

768. James Murdoch, Author (2nd S., VIII., 
29, 48). — It may be noted that James Murdoch, M.A., 
issued in 1903, in collaboration with Isoh Yamagata, 
**A History of Japan" during the century of early 
foreign intercourse (1542-1651), with maps; Kobe, 
Japan. Published at the office of the Chronicle, 
viii. + 743 pp. R. Robertson. 

784. Rhyme on Snuff (2nd S., VIII., 77, 95). — 
Repeated fifty years ago by a native of the Braes of 
Conglass : — 

Sneetam, snatum. muff ! 

Fine, healthy stuff ; 

Clears the een an' quickens the senses, 

A little o't dis for sma' expenses. 

Is the first line a reminiscence of the Latin grace of 
old times? G. W. 

792. Gordon House Academy, Kentish Town, 
London (2nd S., VIII., gi). — If conjecture be per- 



Vol. VIll. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



III 



missible on the subject of this query, it might be 
surmised that some person bearing the name of 
Gordon once resided in what came to be afterwards 
known as Gordon House, and that, on leaving it, 
the dwelling was converted into an educational 
seminary. Does it not now do duty as a private 
hotel ? In the closing years of the eighteenth 
century the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon was rector of 
West Tilbury, Essex. He, or some other person of 
the name, may conceivably have occupied a London 
house, which in course of time became known by 
the name of its owner. W. 

793. Edith Aitken (and S., VHL, 91). — I am 
unable to furnish the date required by **AIba," or, 
indeed, to throw any light on the life of Miss Edith 
Aitken, the actress. Perhaps, however, such a 
book as Dr. Doran's " Memories of Glasgow," pub- 
lished in 1878, and covering the period between i860 
and 1877, might supply the desired information. 
Dr. Doran possessed an extensive acquaintance with 
members of the theatrical profession. W. 

791. David Lyndsay (2nd S., VHI., 92). — No 
mention is made of ** David Lyndsay " in Halkett 
and Laing's "Dictionary of Anonymous and Pseudo- 
nymous Literature," and no copy of his book appears 
in the ** Edinburgh Advocates' Library Catalogue." 
"The London Catalogue ot Books" (1816-51) 
assigns " Dramas of the Ancient World" to '* David 
Lyndsay." It was an octavo volume, published at 
los. 6d. by Cadell. This attribution, however, is 
discounted by the statement, made in explicit terms, 
by Mr. Ralston Inglis (an indefatigable and careful 
investigator), that *• David Lyndsay " was merely a 
nom de plume. All trace of the author seems now 
to be lost. As "Alba" puts it, his real name is 
probably now " lapped in oblivion." ** Alba's" con- 
jecture that he was a clergyman is plausible as well 
as ingenious. S. 

795. "Coxswain Johnnie" (2nd S., VIII., 92). — 
Perhaps the song so named may be given in " Vaga- 
bond Songs and Ballads, with Notes and Music," 
published, I believe, in two series by Mr. Gardner, 
Paisley, and for which the late Mr. Robert Ford 
collected materials. Failing this, I fear Mr. Alan 
Reid will need to depend on oral recitation in order 
to procure a copy of the song. S. 

796. Robert Gordon of Xeres de la Fron- 
TERA (2nd S., VIII., 92). — I have examined the 
marriage registers of a few old magazines dated 1796 
and 1827, but have failed to find any reference to 
the marriage either of father or daughter. Might 
not Lang's (J. D.) "Historical and Statistical Account 
of New South Wales" (1834, 2 vols.) supply some 
information concerning Mrs. Macduff Baxter, the 
daughter of Robert Gordon? I incline to believe 
this Gordon to have been of the family of Gordon of 
AuchendoUy, of which several members held posses- 
sions in the West Indies. W. 



797. Ramsay of Abbotshall and Waughton 
(2nd S., VIII., 92). — Sir Alexander Grant (" History of 
Edinburgh University," I., 200) states that the Rev. 
Andrew Ramsay, rector of the University and minis- 
ter in Edinburgh, was a younger .son of Ramsay of 
Balmain, and that his elder brother " was one of 
the first batch of baronets." Foster (" Members of 
Parliament: Scotland"), Anderson ("Scottish Na- 
tion"), and Burke (" Baronetage") — but the latter 
less explicitly — agree in recording only two Sir 
Andrews. Speaking of Sir Andrew (No. 2 in the 
query), Foster says: " First knighted by the usurper 
Cromwell ; created a baronet of Nova Scotia 23rd 
January, 1669 ; married Anne, daughter of Hugh 
Montgomerie, 7th earl of Eglinton, and died s.p. 
1709." It is clearly established by an entry in the 
"Edinburgh Register of Interments" that dame 
Hepburn (who died in 1672) was the wife of Sir 
Andrew Ramsay (No. i). W. 

798. The Grants of Auchannachy (2nd S., 
VIIL, 92).— If H. D. McW. will consult Jervise's 
" Epitaphs," he will find some account of the Leslies 
ofl Kininvie. As much, at least, may be inferred 
from a statement made by the editor of the last edi- 
tion of Shaw's "History of the Province of Moray." 
The editor, Mr. Gordon, partly quotes Jervise's 
list of names, and adds further that a genealogical 
tree of the Leslies of Kininvie had been prepared by 
Mr. A. Young Leslie of Kininvie. " The Annals of 
Banff" (2 vols.) in the " New Spalding Club," and 
Burke's " Landed Gentry," might also be consulted. 
Perhaps Auchannachy is a mistake for some other 
name. May it not be intended for Auchernack in 
the parish of Abernethy, county of Inverness ? 

W. S. 



Perhaps Auchannachy may be the old form for 
Auchindachy, a Banffshire village three and a half 
miles south-west of Keith. I believe the local pro- 
nunciation of the word is as spelt in the query. 

J. G. R. 

799. Mr. George Caw, Printer, Hawick (2nd 
S., VIIL, 92). — Hailing myself from the Border 
country, I regret my inability to add fresh details to 
Mr. James Sinton*s interesting account of George 
Caw, the Hawick printer. Mr. Sinton supposes 
that he carried on business in Edinburgh and Hawick 
simultaneously. Hardly likely, I think. More pro- 
bably he transferred his business from Edinburgh 
to Hawick for a tew years. It is true that the 
" Sermons" of Dr. Charters of Wilton are claimed 
as a Hawick book, while, at the same time, it is 
true that the '' Sermons " appear in catalogues as 
published in Edinburgh. The explanation, I sup- 
pose, is that some Edinburgh publisher undertook 
to share with Caw the risks of publication. Or, the 
book may have been printed in Hawick but published 
in Edinburgh. Be that as it may, there is a later 
work from Caw's press than any Mr. Sinton has 
noted. I have in my possession an old, shabby. 



•«* 



v.^ 



112 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[January, 1907 



bruised, battered, but fortunately complete copy of 
Boston's ** View of the Covenant of Grace," which 
bears the imprint, ** Hawick: Printed by George 
Caw. 1787." It is the last production I have heard 
of as coming from Caw*s press. Shortly afterwards, 
he seems to have returned to Edinburgh. At all 
events, a ** Sermon on Alms," by Dr. Charters of 
Wilton, has its third edition imprinted *' Edinburgh : 
Printed by George Caw. 1795." Probably he was 
not more than seven or eight years altogether in 
Hawick. The name Caw is not very common. 
Perhaps, if Mr. Sinton would communicate with 
the courteous and accomplished curator of the 
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Mr. 
J. L. Caw, he might learn something about the Caw 
family in Scotland. W. S. 

800. Prince Charlie's Persian Horse (2nd 
S., Vni., 93).— No doubt W. M. M. is right in 
supposing the Chevalier indicated on his engraving 
to DC the **01d Pretender," commonly known as 
"The Chevalier," or, more correctly, "The Old 
Chevalier," to distinguish him from his son. Prince 
Charlie, "The Young Chevalier." Chevaliers, how- 
ever, abounded in those days. The aide-de-camp 
of Lord George Murray, commanding the rebel 
forces during the '45, was called the Chevalier de 
Johnstone. Another chevalier of the same period, 
Andrew Michael Ramsay, happened, curiously 
enough, to be tutor to the Old Pretender's two sons 
for a short time at Rome, but was driven from the 
city by the intrigues of certain persons connected 
with the Pretender's court. There can be no reason- 
able doubt, however, that James, the Old Pretender, 
is meant by the title "Chevalier" in the query. 
The engraving itself I take to have been a kind of 
political cartoon, having perhaps some recondite 
allegorical reference to the tale of the " Enchanted 
Horse "in the "Arabian Nights." Probably it was 
originally circulated in this country at the time of 
some Parliamentary election, when feeling ran high 
between partisans of the rival families of Stuart and 
Hanover. So far as I can recall in historv, there is 
no horse associated with Prince Charlie's name — 
much less a Persian horse. On the other hand, his 
meteoric career might well suggest the Arabian 
legend of the " Enchanted Horse," which was pre- 
sented, by the way, with no good intent, to the 
monarch of Persia. W. S. 



Xiterature. 



A Jacobite Stronghold of the Churchy being 
the Story of Old St. Paul's, Edinburgh : its 
Origin on the Disestablishment of Episcopacy 
in Scotland, 1689, through Jacobite years on- 
ward to the Oxford Movement ; and its Relation 
to the Scottish Consecration in 1784 of the first 
Bishop of the American Church. By Mary E. 
Ingram, Edinburgh. Edinburgh : R. Grant 



and Son. 1907. [10+ 124 pp., crown 8vo, with 
four illustrations.] 

Under this long and somewhat ambiguous 
title Miss Ingram gives a most painstaking and 
interesting narrative of a hitherto neglected 
phase of the intimate connection between the 
Jacobite and Episcopal parties during the politi- 
cal struggle. Old St. Paul's was a church mili- 
tant, buoyant when the tide of war was with 
them and pathetically depressed as the fated 
Jacobitism ripened to a "lost cause" — a cause, 
however, which to this day does not lack its 
adherents. If we eliminate the warlike ele- 
ment. Old St. PauPs as a church bears a strong 
family likeness to other churches, but it is 
gratifying to note that, after toil .ind storm, 
pains and penalties, have come times of progress 
and prosperity more affluent than this old his- 
torical church ever before enjoyed. 



Scots Boofis ot tbe /l^oittb. 



Qelkie, Sir Archibald. Scottish Reminiscences. 
Cheap Edition. 8vo. Net, 2s. 6d. Maclehose. 

Mackay, Rev. Ansrus, M.A. Autobiographical 
Journal of John Macdonald, Schoolmaster and 
Soldier, 1770- 1830. 4 Plates. 8vo. Net, 28. 6d. 

Halkirk: D. Y. Forbes. 

Marshall, H. E. Scotland's Story. With Pic- 
tures by J. R. Skelton, John Hassall, and J. Shaw 
Crompton. 4to. Net, 7s. 6d. 

T. C. & E. C. Jack. 

Stark, James, D.D., Aberdeen. Some of the 
Last Things. 8vo. Net, 2s. 6d. 

Aberdeen : David Wyllie & Son. 

Stlrllns:. Amelia Hutchison, M.A. (Edln.). 

A Sketch of Scottish Industrial and Social History 
in the i8th and igth Centuries. Illustrated with 
Portraits. 8vo. Net, 6s. Blackie. 

The Woodhouselee MS. A Narrative of Events in 
Edinburgh and District during the Jacobite Occu- 
pation, September to November, 1745. Printed 
from the Original Papers in the possession of 
C. E. S. Chambers. Only 75 copies printed. Im- 
perial 8vo. Net, 5s. Chambers. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. Ed. 

Printed and Published at The Eosemount Press, Aberdeen. 
Literary communications should be addressed to the JMiCor, 
23 Osborue Place, Aberdeen; Advertisements and Bostn 
Letters to the Publishers, Farmer's Hall Lane, Aberdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



voL.vin. 1 ja^ Q 

2iid Skriks. J ^^^' °* 



February, 1907. 



KlGI8TKRBD{gjJ»Mi^^ 



CONTENTS. 



NoTHS :— 

Bibliography of Works on the 8t«wart and Stuart 

Familiea Jjj 

HadeUne Smith 115 

Lawranceand Lawrence Families in Aberdeenshire, 

1696 "0 

Notoble Men and Women of Forfarshire 118 

A Bibliography of Edinburgh Periodical Literature 121 

Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals Ig 

Gordons of Auchinreath 124 

Aberdeen Bibliography Ig 

The Scot and His Regiments 12d 

MmoE Notes :— 

Alex. J. Warden 118 

Principal Rainy's Genealogy— Henry Farqnharson. . . 12* 
Cant Family 125 

Queries :— 

Inglis Family— A Mackie Marriage— Captain George 
Gordon, R.N. - Sir Cosmo Gordon — Longmore 
Family— Adam Gordon, Navy Surgeon— Gordon- 
Anderson Marriage— Tinder Boxes in Church— 
Jardine, Rannie, Dundas— Alexander Gordon of 
Camoiisie— James Watson's "History of Printing," 
Edinburgh, 1713— Caddell, alias Macpherson 126 

Duff Family 127 

AUSWERS :— 

"Blackwood's Magazine "—The Name McKelvIe— 
Dr. George Bethune 127 

LITKRATUEE 128 

Scow Books of the Month 128 



ABERDEEN, FEBRUARY, 1907. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS ON THE 
STEWART AND STUART FAMILIES. 

In accordance with the request of Mr. Eugene 
Fairfield McPike (2nd S., VII., 53), I herewith 
append a list of published works bearing upon 
the history of the above surnames. These have 
been collected from various sources, notably 
from Mr. G. Harvey Johnston's bibliography 
contained in his work, " Heraldry of the Stew- 
arts," published this year. As I am contem- 
plating the publishing of addenda to the pub- 
lished notes on clan literature marshalled by 
Mr. P. J. Anderson (ist S., V., 125, 126; 2nd 
S., L, 190, 191), additional references may be 
sent, addressed to me, c/o the Editor of this 
journal. 

1. A Trewe Description of the Nobill Race of the 

Stewards. Amsterdam, 1603, folio. 

2. Memoirs of the Family of the Stuarts, and the 



Remarkable Providence of God towards them. 
Page gy John Watson. London, 1683, 8vo. 

3. DeKnce of the Royal Line of Scotland. By Sir 
George Mackenzie. Two tracts. London, 
1685, 8vo ; 1686, 4to. 

4. Royal Family Described: or, the Characters of 
James I., Charles I., Charles II., James II. 
By Mr. Stewart. London, 1702, 4to. 

5. Chronological, Genealogical, and Historical Dis- 
sertation of the Royal Family of the Stuarts. 
By Matthew Kennedy. Paris, 1705, 8vo. 

6. A Genealogical History of the Stewarts from the 
year 1034-1710. By George Crawfurd. Edin- 
burgh, 1710, folio; Paisley, 1782, 4to (con- 
tinued) ; Paislev, 1818, 4to (continued). 

7. Genealogical and Historical Account of the Illus- 
trious Name and Family of Stewart, to the 
Accession of the Imperial Crown of Scotland. 
By David Simson. Edinburgh, 1712, 8vo; 
London, 17 13, 4 to. 

8. Essay on the Origin of the Royal Family of the 
Stewarts. By Richard Hay. Edinburgh, 1722, 
4to; 1793. 

g. A Short Historical and Genealogical Account of 
the Royal Family of Scotland, and of the Sur- 
name, from the First Founder of that Name. 
By Duncan Stewart Edinburgh, 1739, 4to, 
with chart. 

10. The Right of the House of Stewart to the Crown 
of Scotland Considered. Edinburgh, 1746 
(second edition). 

11. Letters to the Right Hon. Lord Mansfield, from 
Andrew Stewart, on the History and Gene- 
alogies of the Stewarts. 1773. 

12. State of the Evidence for Proving that Sir John 
Stuart of Castlemilk is the Lineal Heir Male of 
Sir William Stuart of Castlemilk, who lived in 
the Fourteenth Century. 1794, 4to. 

13. Ap Historical Genealogy of the Royal House of 
Stuart. By Mark Noble. London, 1795, 4to. 

14. Genealogical History of the Stuarts, from the 
Earliest Period of their Authentic History to the 
Present Time. By Andrew Stuart, M.P. Lon- 
don, 1798, 4to. 

15. Genealogy of the Stewarts Refuted. By Sir 
Henry Steuart. Edinburgh, 1799, 4to. (Being 
a letter to Andrew Stuart, M.P.; No. 14.) 

16. Supplement to the Genealogical History of the 
Stewarts. By Andrew Stuart 1799, 4to. 

17. View of the Evidence for Proving that the 
Paternal Ancestor of the Present Earls of 
Galloway was the Second Son of Sir Alexander 
Stewart of Darnley. By E. Williams, 1801, 410. 



■*■ — ■ =' » 



114 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[February, 1907 



18. Salt Foot Controversy, involving the Descent 
of the Family of Allanton. By J. Riddell. 
Edinburgh, 1818, 8vo. 

19. Genealogical Account of the Royal House of 
Stuart, from the Year 1043 down to the Present 
Period. By Thomas Waterhouse. Grantham, 
1826, 8vo. 

20. Jacobite Minstrelsy, with Notes containing His- 
torical Details in Relation to the House of Stuart 
from 1640 to 1784. Glasgow, 1829. 

21. History of the Partition of the Earldom of Len- 

nox, with a Vindication of the Antiquities of 
Merchiston and Thirlestane. By Mark Napier. 
Edinburgh, 1835, 8vo. 

22. Additional Remarks upon the Question of the 
Lennox or Rusky Representation. By John 
Riddell. 1835, 8vo. 

23. Coltness Collections, comprising Memorials of 
the Stewarts of Allanton, Coltness, etc. By 
Mrs. Calderwood. 1842, 4to. 

2). Stewartiana, containing the Case of King Robert 
II. and Elizabeth Mure. By J. Riddell. Edin- 
burgh, 1843, 8vo. 

25. Genealogical and Historical Sketch of the 
Stuarts of the House of Castle Stuart in Ire- 
land. By the Hon. A. G. Stuart With plates. 
Edinburgh, 1854, 4to. 

26. Fitzallan and Stuart. By Ayton. 1856. 

27. Descendants of the Stuarts: an Unchronicled 
Page in England's History. By William Town- 
end. Portraits and genealogical trees. London, 
February, 1858, 8vo ; October, 1858, 8vo ; 1867, 
8vo. 

28. Red Book of Grantully. By Sir William Eraser. 
Edinburgh, 1868, 4to. 2 vols. 

29. The Lennox. By Sir William Eraser. Edin- 
burgh, 1874, 4to. 2 vols. 

30. Memorials of the Stewarts of Fothergill, Perth- 
shire, and their Male Descendants, with an 
Appendix containing Title Deeds, various Docu- 
ments of Interest in the History. By Charles 
Poyntz Stewart, M.A., Trin. Coll., Camb. ; 
F.S.A. Scot., etc. Printed tor private cir- 
culation by W. & A. K. Johnston, Edinburgh 
and London, 1879^ 4to, 160 pp. Full of pedi- 
grees and facsimiles of charters (1455 upwards), 
arms, views, etc. 

31. The Lanox of Auld : an Epistolatory Review of 
"The Lennox," by William Eraser. By Mark 
Napier. Edinburgh, 1880, 4to. 

32. Stuart of Allanbank (1643-1880). By Louisa L. 
Forbes. Folding sheet. Edinburgh, 1880. 

33. Stewarts of Appin. By John H. J. and Lieut - 
Col. Duncan Stewart Edinburgh, 1880, 4to. 

34. Red Book of Menteith. By Sir William Eraser. 

Edinburgh, 1880, 4to (2 vols.). 

35. Dukes of Albany and their Castle of Doune. By 

Sir William Eraser. Edinburgh, 1881, 4to. 

36. Stuart of Allanbank Family History, including 
the Families of Bethune, Eden, Elliot, Marjori- 
banks, Stuart, and Trotter. Their pedigrees 
compiled by Mrs. G. E. Forbes. 1881. 



37. Red Book of Menteith Reviewed. By George 
Burnett. Edinburgh, 1881, small 4to. 

38. Sidelights on the Stuarts, with Portraits, Fac- 
similes of Documents, etc. By F. A. Inderwick. 
1888, 8vo. 

39. Exhibition of the Royal House of Stuart A 
catalogue of Jacobite pictures, relics, etc. Lon- 
don, 1889. 

40. The Royal House of Stuart. Illustrated by a 
series of 40 coloured plates drawn from relics ot 
the Stuarts by William Gibb ; with an intro- 
duction by John Skelton, and descriptive notes 
by W. H. St John Hope. London, 1890. 

41. Some Account of the Stuarts of Aubigny in 
France. By Lady Elizabeth Cust (1422-1672.) 
1891. 

42. Pedigree of the House of Stewart. Compiled 
for the Stewart Exhibition. By W. A. Lindsay. 
Large chart, 1891. 

43. Studies on Peerage and Family History. By 
J. Horace Round. London, 1901, 8vo. 

44. The Story of the Stewarts. Printed for the 
Stewart Society, 1901. The author of this 
volume is Mr. James King Stewart He is, 
says The Celtic Monthly (XIII., page 141 
[1905]), descended in one line from Stewarts of 
Tulloch and Invervack in Atholl, and In another, 
from Stewarts in Glengairn and Strathdon in 
Aberdeenshire. The same journal states that 
he has also started a genealogical and historical 
magazine (**The Stewarts") for the Society, 
acts as editor, and has contributed articles on 
the present heir male of the Stewarts, which 
inter alia trace the early history of the rival 
families of Galloway and Castle Stuart. On 
his favourite subject he writes with care a.nd 
authority, and has the happy faculty of present- 
ing his historical information in a manner inter- 
esting alike to the general reader and the 
genealogical expert. 

45. The Stuarts: Illustrations of Personal Histor}' 
of the Family (especially Mary Queen of Scots) 
in 1 6th, 17th, and i8th Century Art. By J. J. 
Foster. 2 vols., folio. Published by Dickinson, 
London, 1902. 

46. The Heraldry of the Stewarts, with Notes on 
all Males of the Family, Descriptions of the 
Arms, Plates, and Pedigrees. By G. Harvey 
Johnston, author of "Scottish Heraldry made 
Easy." Edinburgh and London: W. & A. K. 
Johnston, Limited, 1906. 4to, contains 8 plates, 
with representations of 128 arms in colour, 
recorded by Stewarts. 

47. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Publications. 
Vol. XX. : Charm Stone of the Stewarts of 
Ardvorlish. By Sir Noel Paton. (Also Vol. 
XXVII.) Vol. XXIX., Monumental Effigy. 

48. Last of the Royal Stuarts: Henry Stuart, 
Cardinal Duke of York. By Herbert M. 
Vaughan, B.A.Oxon. 8vo. . Metheun, London, 
1906. 



Aberdeen. 



Robert Murdoch. 



_ 



Vol VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



"5 



MADELINE SMITH. 

The trial of this woman for alleged poisoning 
of her French leman in 1857 was the greatest 
Scottish criminal case of the last century. I was 
in Glasgow at the time, and, like other people, 
made a pilgrimage to Blythwood Square, and had 
**a guid glower at the hoose," and I vividly re- 
member the wrangles at night and street fights 
during the course of the trial. There are plenty 
of books on this famous case, and therefore I 
am not going to trespass therein ; but I cannot 
help recalling to mind that the verdict of " Not 
proven" seemed to interest our southron friends 
more than the crime itself—" Ah ! so un-English 
you know." They considered that their own 
clumsy legal procedure was the perfection of 
human wisdom ; other people denounce it as 
obsolete jargon and a complex maze of cobweb- 
bery. But I must not digress, for my concern is 
solely for the accused woman's Australian career. 

Madeline Smith's life for fifteen years after 
her trial is a blank not easily filled up. A writer 
in the Scotsman appears to know all about it, and 
I am somewhat timorous in venturing to ques- 
tion the dictum of so oracular an authority. How- 
ever, I candidly confess that I do not believe in 
the story of her triple marriage— it is sensation 
run mad Her first mate is stated to have been 
some English parson, attracted thereto by an 
annuity which she had — likely bait for a greedy 
chunk, but scarcely good enough for a clergy- 
man, who would have been shunned thereafter m 
any decent society. Her second husband, Dr. 
Tudor Hora, was m reality the only one she ever 
had. The story of her third husband, a Mr. 
Wardle, is a myth. Of that I feel confident. V>r, 
Hora was a Welsh medical student at Glasgow 
University, and acquainted with her before 
the trial. He was fascinated with her attractive- 
ness, for she was a grand-looking lady, even 
when fifty years old, when I saw her for the first 
time. She was married shortly after her trial, 
and they are reported to have lived in Wales, 
London, the Continent, and even America. 
It is all conjecture; but we get trustworthy 
evidence that they lived together in Perth, West 
Australia, during the seventies. Dr. Hora 
was in practice there, and she was a proficient 
pianist, and 1 presume that they lived comfort- 
ably, especially with that annuity of hers — to 
wit, Ji^po per annum. 

But the Scotsman scribe avers that she was 
discovered in Perth by some Glasgow blathers- 
kite, and in consequence had to make a hasty 
flight to Melbourne. We are likewise told that 
she evinced unusual emotion at a public concert 
on hearing Robert Gilfillan's song, " Oh why left 



I my hame?" and had to leave. May or may 
not be true. I m)rself have seen hardy Scotch 
stonemasons weeping on hearing Sandy Hume's 
fine song, " The Scottish Emigrant's Farewell," 
which I have heard poor Sandy himself sing in 
the lang ago. I am inclined to discard both 
stories. Recently I had a long interview with an 
old journalistic friend, a warm-hearted son of Erin, 
who had spent fifteen years in West Australia, 
living mostly in Subiaco, a suburb of the city of 
Perth, which is the capital of that colony. I 
asked him about Madeline Smith, and gave him 
an outline of her history, winding up with the 
song yarn, which he termed, contemptuously, 
" sentimental rot." He said he had never heard 
of her before, and then assured me that, although 
there were good men — "real white men"— on the 
gold-fields, the place swarmed with scallawags 
and swindlers, blackguards and demireps, heed- 
less of morality and religion, not caring a straw 
who their neighbours were, only anxious to keep 
their antecedents in the dark, intent on making 
their pile by fair or foul means (no matter which), 
and then clear out of the colony for somewhere 
else to spend it. Society was demoralised and 
fluctuating, new-comers arriving, old ones going 
away, or "joining the majority," and all in a 
state of feverish unrest, sometimes convulsed 
with rumours of richer diggings farther off, when 
there would be a general stampede in that 
direction. 1857 was to them very ancient 
history, and they were more interested in 
present "sticking up," and bushranging exploits ; 
the poisoning of a &vourite dog affected them 
more than the accidental one of a frog-eating 
Frenchman. He laughed scornfully at the idea 
of any woman being molested on account of the 
past, and as I had myself edited an up-country 
newspaper in a mining township, I knew he was 
right,and acquiesced in the justice of his remarks. 
The fact is that Dr. and Mrs. Hora tired of 
Perth, as many colonists do, and came to Mel- 
bourne during the eighties. He started in prac- 
tice at Footscray, a quasi-salubrious suburb, 
sacred to bone-mills and boiling-down rookeries. 
Here Madeline was recognised, for my niece liv- 
ing there questioned me keenly about the trial of 
1857, and then told me that Mrs. Hora, when 
she took a walk abroad, was stared at persistently 
and even followed. This espionage becoming 
insupportable. Dr. Hora removed to Lygon 
Street, Carlton, and not to North Melbourne, as 
stated by some writers. I was living there 
myself, and know positively that she did not 
reside there. 1 had to pass and repass Dr. 
Hora's surgery pretty often on my way to work 
in the Exhibition Huilding in the Gardens, and 
was on the look-out for Madeline, whom I did 



ii6 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[February, 1907 



see occasionally. From my niece's description 

I soon spotted the heroine. Of course I kept 
my knowledge to myseU. At night Dr. Hora 
had a flaring red lantern over the door, and on 
going home one evening I saw Madeline enter- 
ing the house. Knowinfg that she was " a woman 
with a past," I had a good look at her before she 
shut the door. A man standing on the kerb 
remarked to me, " That's the doctor's wife, she's 
a regular tragedy queen." His guess, although 
made at random, was nearer the mark than he 
supposed ; but I said nothing, inly cogitating 
upon Clytemnestra, Beatrice Cenci, and Mary 
Blandy, and that Madeline Smith had been more 
fortunate than any of them. 

Shortly after, on New-Year*s Day, I had 
further confirmation, for a number of *'brither 
Scots" visited me, and we had **a*wee drappie 
o't." Amongst the company was a commercial 
traveller from New Zealand, named Telford, who 
was generally a loquacious chap ; but on this 
occasion he was abnormally dull and distrait. 
He was rallied upon his silence, and after an 
extra "toothfu"' he thusly unburdened himself : — 
*'Weel, boys, I confess that I am troubled in 
mind. 1 saw MadeHne Smith in the Carlton 
Gardens this morning. We had been children 
together in Glasgow, and knew each other at 
sight. Poor woman ! she is very unhappy, and 
she implored me to keep her secret. I feel 
deeply affected at this chance interview, and 
cannot efface it from my mind." I told him not 
to worry over the matter, for it was an open 
secret to us all, as we had known it for some 
time, and had no intention to harass the 
unfortunate woman. 

Well, Dr. Hora died about 1889, and I 
presume that his widow relumed to West 
Australia, where she had acquaintances, and in 
all probability died at Perth on the 20th 
September, 1893. I have three sufficient reasons 
for this statement. 

First. — I was in Melbourne at the time of her 
alleged death there, and never heard a word 
about it, although I am an assiduous reader of 
the daily press ; but I did see a paragraph 
some weeks after that date to the effect that 
Madeline Smith had died in Perth. Some Scotch 
friends talked about it. Thousands of miles 
separate Melbourne from Perth, and the 
colony of South Australia intervenes between. 

I I takes a week's steaming, the run between the 
ports. I have made that voyage. Home writers 
make sad blunders in our geography. 

Second. — I ransacked the files of the Mel- 
bourne Argus 2Si^ Age for September, 1893, and 
saw no announcement of the death of Mrs. 
Hora, or Wardle, or funeral notice either, and it 



must be a poverty-stricken person, indeed, whose 
friends cannot afford that expense. Madeline 
Smith was never in want of money. 

Third. — I went to the Melbourne General 
Cemetery, and interviewed the secretary (a Scot) 
in his office anent the matter. He declared 
that he had never heard that Madeline Smith 
had been buried there, and at my desire he 
overhauled the register of interments for 
September and October, 1893. Result — No 
Madeline Smith, Hora, or Wardle buried there 
during those months, or even of any woman 
with the Christian name of Madeline. 

Such are my reasons for disbelief that 
Madeline Smith died in Melbourne. Poor, 
erring, passionate creature ! She found an " unco 
grave " in the Perth Cemetery, in all probability, 
amongst the waifs and strays there garnered in 
from all parts of the world. 

Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



LAWRANCEandL.WVRENCE FAMILIES 
IN ABERDEENSHIRE, 1696. 



Always interested in genealogical publications 
and works dealing with family history, and more 
so since I became a subscriber to this journal, 
I have extracted the whole notes relating to the 
above surname and its variations from the Poll 
Book of 1696, which I hope will be found of 
service to those engaged in family history. To 
Mr. P. J. Anderson I am indebted for the use of 
the volumes whence the references are taken. 
The Rev. James Forrest, The Manse, Lonmay, 
has also greatly lightened my labours by assist- 
ing in making genealogical deductions of Law- 
rences in his district. Should this meet the eye 
of any person bearing the surname in Buchan, 
I hope they will communicate with me, and 
thus help to gather together sufficient materials 
for the genealogy of the name for future pub- 
lication. 

VOLUME I. 

Parish of Crathie. 
152. Alexander Lowrie, and his wife, of generall 

poll ..... . . I2S. 

Parish of Bethelnie. Frostkrhill. 

324. Margarat Laurence, servant, for fee and gene- 
rall poll, is los. 

Parish of Invernochtie. Corneill. 

54T. Item, William Lawrence, his servant, £'9 of 
fee per annum, fortieth pairt whereot is 4s. 6d., 
and generall poll, 6s., inde both is los. 6d. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



"7 



549- 

550- 



565. 



565- 



580. 



60Z. 



Parish of Peterhead. 

Note : — Christian Hamptoun, in Invernettie, 
1696, paid 36s. (was tennent). 

Christian Hamptoun, in Invernettie, her pro- 
portione of the valued rent, ut supra, is 
£1 i6s. 8d., of generall poll is . £2 2S. 8d. 

Note: — The above is inserted for reference, as 
Thomas Lawrance and his wife, Isobel Reid, 
occupied the farm for a number of years. 
Thomas Lawrance was formerly a farmer in 
Cairnchina, Lonmay. Both he and his wife 
are said to be buried in the old churchyard at 
Peterhead. 

Peterhead. Dens. 

Alexander Tulloch of Clerkhill, his valuatione 
in the said parioch is . . ;f 200 os. od. 

The hundreth pairt whereof is payable be the 
tennents (one of whom was) William Law- 
rance 8s. 

The said William Lawrance, his proportione 
of valued rent is 8s., and of generall poll 6s., 
itide both is 14s. 

Janet Bruce, his wyfe (no children) . 6s. 

LONGSIDE. 

Margaret Lawrence, spous to George Mill, 
tennent in Rora 6s. 

John Milne, his sone, living in the familie, 6s. 

Elspet Milne, his daughter, her generall poll 
is 6s. 

Strichen. 

Alexander Lawrence, tennent in Hilsyde 6s. 
Michael Pittendreich in Roodbog . los. 



602. 



602. 



SoUrHMAINES. 

Margaret Laurance, ther, payes 
Borrowhill. 



6s. 



604. 



607. 



John Innes, tennent ther, and his wife, their 
generall poll 12s. 

His proportione of valued rent is . . 6s. 

Patrick Lawrance, his herd, his fee per annum 
£^y fortieth pairt whereof is is. 6d., and 
generall poll 6s., both ... 7s 6d. 

Walkmilne. 

Elizabeth Lawrence, spous to James Fraser, 
Stewart to the Laird of Streichen, who is 
already classed in his own familie . 6s. 

HiLLSVDE. 

Alexander Lawrence, tennent ther, and his 

wife I2S. 

And for valuatione . . .6s. 



611. 



612. 



613. 



RoODBOG. 

Michael Pittendreich, tennent ther, and his 
wife ....... I2S. 

And for valuatione .... los. 

Parish op Deer. Skillimarno. 
John Lawrence, grassman, and his wife 12s. 

Milne Bruxie. 

Thomas Lawrence, servant, fee per annum £^, 
fortieth pairt and generall poll . 8s. 

Benwalls. 
William Lawrence, weaver, and his wife i8s. 

Quart-Ale-House. 

William Lawrence, tennent, and his wife, and 
for valuatione . . . . ;£i 78. od. 

And for Alexander Durie, his man, fee per 
annum £6, fortieth pairt with generall poll, 9s. 

William Lawrence, grassman, and his wife, I2S. 



6r 



616. 



617. 



Windiewalls. 
John Lawrence, weaver, and his wife 

Midle Aden. 



i8s. 



624. 



627. 



628. 



George Lawrence, grassman, and his mother, 

I2S. 

Midle Altrie. 

Alexander Lawrence, boy, fee per annum £^, 
fortieth pairt and generall poll . 7s. 6d. 

Burnehill. 

George Lawrence, boy, fee per annum 2 merks, 
fortieth pairt and generall poll . 6s. 8d. 

Newtone. 

Andrew Lawrence, subtenent, and his wife, I2S. 

Isobell Lawrance, servant, fee per annum 
£2 6s. 8d., fortieth pairt and generall poll, 

7s. 2d. 
Nether Pitfower. 

Thomas Lawrence, tennent, and for valuatione, 

i8s. 

Alexander, Robert, and Jean Lawrences, his 

children iSs. 

Jean and Margrett Lawrences, grasswomen, 

I2S. 

Cryallie. 

George Lawrence, grassman, and his wife, 12s. 

William Lawrence, herd, his fee per annum 
£2, fortieth pairt and generall poll is . 7s. 

Walter Lawrence, weaver, and his wife i8s. 

Over Creichie. 
William Lawrence, grassman, and his wife, 12s. 



ii8 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 

■ ■ ■ ■ # 



[February, 1907 



6s. 



Town of Clolae West. 
629. Agnes Lav/rence, grasswoman 

Brae of Biffie. 
631. Jean Lawrence, grasswoman 

Milne of Skblmure and Corthicran. 

633. Alexander Lawrance, fee per annum £8, fortieth 

pairt and generall poll is . . . los. 

New Knock. 

634. George Lawrence, servant, fee per annum £%, 

fortieth pairt and generall poll . . los. 

Wester Knock. 
George Lawrence, grassman, and his wife, 12s. 

Kings Crown. 

638. George Lawrence, fee per annum 11 merks, 
fortieth pairt and general poll 9s. 8d. 

John Lawrence, byreman, fee per annum £16, 
fortieth pairt and generall poll .14s. 

Parish of Rathen. 

641. The Lord Saltoune, his valuatione in the said 
paroch .... ;C793 6s. 8d. 



NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF 
^^ FORFARSHIRE. 



I I. Abkrcromby, David, M.D. : Medical 
! Man and Author. Born Seaton, near Arbroath 
(1620 or 1630), he is said to have died in 1695. 
The following works ascribed to him appear in 
the calalogue of the Advocates' Library, 
Edinburgh : — " De Variatione ac Varietatc 
pulsus observationes : accessit ejusdem authoris 
nova medicinae turn speculativae, turn practicae 
clavis, sive ars explorandi medicas plantarum 
ac corporum quorumcumque facultates ex solo 
sapore," 1685 ; " A Discourse of Wit," i686 ; 
" Fur Academic us, sive academia ornamenta 
spoliata a furibus, qui in Parnasso coram 
Apolline sistuntur, ubi cri minis sui accusantur. 
et convincuntur. Editio secunda, 1701.'' A 
notice of him appears in an early edition of the 
Encyclopipdia Britannica.'* 



I t( 



His tennents as followes. 
John Lawrence in Rathen 
643. John Lawrence, wife at Rathen 

Robert Murdoch. 

(To be continued. ) 
♦ 



7s. 
6s. 



Alex. J. Warden (2nd S., VI II., 45, 64).— 
I return thanks to Mr. A. H. Millar, of Dundee, 
for his courtesy in answering my query. It gives 
the exact information wanted, ana clearly shows 
the impress of a literary expert. I consulted 
the London Athefurum of 1892 for an obituary 
notice of Mr. Warden, as I thought that his able 
and useful volumes deserved that recognition 
which is usually given to people of smaller talent, 
but I was disappointed— nothing there ; and 
as the editor of that time was a Scot himself 
(the late Norman McCoU), I was surprised at the 
omission. I daresay whatever Scottish procliv- 
ities he may have had, he was constrained to 
keep them in thraldom, lest he should offend the 
super-sensitiveness of his English patrons. 
None of Mr. Warden's books are in our public 
library, but I had a glance at the county history 
during a visit to the Old Land recently. 

Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



2. Abercrombv or Abercrombie, Patrick : 
Historian, etc. He was a Scottish physician, 
living in the latter half of the seventeenth and 
the beginning of the eighteenth centuries, re- 
garding whose history, however, we have only 
meagre and contradictory reports. According to 
the "National Dictionary of Biography," he was 
born in Forfar, 1656 : "third son of Alexander of 
Fetterneir, Aberdeenshire, a branch of the house 
of Birkenbog in Banffshire." Dr. Grosart puts 
his death in the year 17 16, but the date seems 
unascertained. He published " The Advantages 
of the Act of Security compared with those of 
the intended Union : founded on the Revolution 
Principles published by Mr. Daniel Defoe ; or, 
the present happy condition of Scotland, with 
respect to the certainty of its future honourable 
and advantageous establishment, demonstrated. 
Wherein is show'd that both the projected Union, 
and a nomination of a successor to the Crown, 
tho' with limitations, cannot fail to comple.i. the 
miseries of this Kingdom ; but that the Act of 
Security alone, if adher'd to, will in&llibly 
retrive our lost happiness, and make us a rich 
and glorious people. i7oiS." He was also the 
author of the well-known work, " The Martial 
Achievements of the Scots Nation : Being an 
account of the lives and characters and memor- 
able actions of such Scotsmen as have 
signalized themselves by the sword at home and 
abroad, and a survey of the military transac- 
tions wherin Scotland or Scotsmen have been 
remarkably concerned, from the first establish- 
ment of the Scots monarchy to the present term, 
1 7 1 1- 1 5." He also published a translation of the 
" History of the Campaigns, 1548 and 1549," by 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



riy 



Jean de Beaugue, for which he wrote an intro- 
ductory preface. 

3. Adam, John ; Poetaster. A veritable 
nomad, or, in plain Saxon, a tramp. Born in 
Dundee in 1832, he was wont to travel the 
country (if aliens may still do so) earning a 
precarious living by reciting his poetry and by 
the sale of pencil copies of his " generals." He 
is noticed in Mr. Alan Reid's Anthology of the 
Counties of Angus and the Mearns, who says of 
him "his verses are by no means despicable, 
but show occasional gleams of talent and flashes 
of humour." 

4. Adamson, Archibald R. : Poet and 
Author, liorn in \rbroath loth March, 1839, 
he worked in Glasgow and learned the brass- 
finishing trade. After becoming a foreman, he 
removed in 1870 to Kilmarnock. He published 
** Rambles round Kilmarnock" in 1875, also 
" Rambles through the Land of Burns" in 1879. 
He has also written verses. His elder brother 
is author of " The Abbot of Aberbrothock " and 
other novels. 

5. Adie, Charles, D.D. : Divine of Church 
of Scotland. Bom Dundee 1785, educated at 
Grammar School and at St. Andrews University, 
he was licensed by the Presbytery of Dundee, 
and after a brief probationership was ordained 
parish minister of Tealing in 1814, but trans- 
lated to the South Church, Dundee, in 1826. 
He received his doctorate from St. Andrews in 
1833, and was translated and admitted to St. 
Mary's Church in 1848. He died 1861, aged 76. 
He published ** A Series of Questions to explain 
and illustrate the nature and uses of the Lord's 
Supper," 1836, also "The Righteousness of a 
Nation : A Discourse," 1835, *nd several other 
sermons and other compositions. In Dundee 
he ministered to a very large congregation. 
Never very robust, he yet enjoyed uninterrupted 
good health and was rarely absent from his 
pulpit. A Moderate in Church politics, but 
never a violent one, he declined the Moderator- 
ship of the General Assembly some years before 
his death. A tablet to his memory was placed 
in the East Church, Dundee, 1863. 

6. Adie, James : Geologist. A native of ' 
Dundee, and brought up in the Overgate, he I 
showed from boyhood a great love of mountains 
and green fields. He was one of the original 
members of the ** Dundee Literary and Scientific 
Institute," which met in a garret in the High 
Street. He made frequent excursions to the 
seashore, the Sidlaw Hills, and other localities, 



collecting botanical and geological specimens, 
and verifying his classifications of them by study 
in the Watt Museum. His attention was specially 
directed to geology, on which he wrote several 
interesting papers, showing considerable range 
of knowledge. In March, 1846, he went to 
Glasgow, and some time after emigrated to the 
United States, where he married, his wife, like 
himself, being a native of Dundee. Although in 
business, he devoted all his leisure hours to 
scientific pursuits. Some time before his death 
he was connected with the press in Canada. 
His end was a tragic one, for, having been 
summoned as a juryman to attend the Quarter 
Sessions held at Niagara, he was overtaken by a 
snowstorm and perished by exposure 6th April, 
1855. Vide Norrie's " Dundee Celebrities.'' 

7'. Airman, Willlwi : Artist, Portrait 
Painter. In several works of reference this 
artist is said to have been a native of Aberdeen- 
shire, but the Cairney estate, where presumably 
he was born, and of which liis father was pro- 
prietor, was situated near Arbroath, and was 
not, I believe, the Aberdeenshire Cairnie at all. 
He was born 24th October, 1682, the son of 
William, of Cairney, advocate, by Margaret, 
third sister of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik. 
Meant by his tather for the law, he preferred to 
follow art, and in 1707, on his father's death, 
sold his paternal estate, and proceeded to Rome 
to study the great masters. He returned to 
Scotland in 1702, after having visited Constantin- 
ople and Smyrna. Patronised by the Duke of 
Argyll, he settled as a portrait painter in London 
in 1723. He was much employed by the aristoc- 
racy, and had among his friends the Duke of 
Devonshire, the Earl of Burlington, Sir Robert 
Walpole. He was also intimate with Pope, 
Swift, Arbuthnot, Gay, Mallet, and Thomson, 
and Allan Ramsay. Aikman died in 1731, and 
was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh. 

8. AiRTH, James: Minor Poet. Bom 1804 
in Arbroath, and bred a baker, young Airth had 
many vicissitudes in life both in Scotland and 
America. He published 1848 " Maud's Dream," 
and other poems, and died in 1871. For fuller 
notice, see Edwards's ** Modern Scottish Poets," 
Vol. VI. 

9. AiTKEN, Sir William, M.D., LL.D. : 
Pathologist and Author. A native of Dundee, 
and born 23rd April, 1825, this notable physician, 
after a distinguished career at Edinburgh 
University, where he graduated as M.D. and 
Gold Medallist in 1848, entered the Army 
Medical Service, where he ultimately became 



I20 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [February, 1907 



Professor of Pathology, Army Medical School, 
Netley, and Examiner in Medicine for Army 
and Indian Medical Services. He was author 
(jointly with Dr. Lyons) of a "Report on the 
Pathology of the Diseases of the Army in the 
East,'' 1856 ; and also published, under his own j 
name, " Outlines of the Science and Practice of i 
Medicine," 1874 (2nd edit, 1882); **The Doctrine \ 
of Evolution in its Application to Pathology," 
1885 ; "The Growth of the Recruit and Young 
Soldier" (2nd edit, 1887); "On the Animal 
Alkaloids," 1887. He died in 1892. 

10. Alexander, Alexander Crichton 
(Rev.): United Free Church Minister and Poet 
A native of Carnoustie, born in 1845, educated ! 
for the United Presbyterian ministry, he was \ 
ordained at Douglas in 1872, but translated to 
Stoke Newington, London, in 1883, where he 
laboured with much acceptance till a year or two 
ago, when he retired to Scotland, but soon after | 
accepted a call to the United Free Church, ! 
Saline, where he at present labours. Mr. 
Alexander is a man of fine taste, writes graceful 
and cultured verse, some examples of which 
he published in 1865 and at later dates, while 
specimens of his work of a favourable kind are 
given in Edwards's " Modern Scottish Poets," 
Vol. V. 

1 1. Alexander, Charles : Canadian Phil- 
anthropist Bom 18 1 5 in Dundee, after a long 
and honoured career in Canada, lasting sixty- 
five years, he died in Montreal in the autumn 
of 1905. His death drew forth testimonies to ; 
his well-spent life from all parties and sects, i 
He had been a director of several important 
financial and industrial institutions, all of which 
passed resolutions expressive of their esteem 
and sent representatives to the funeral. The 
hospitals, the Societies for the Protection of 
Women and Children and for the Prevention of 
Cruelty to Animals, the Boys' Home, the House 
of Refuge, the Deaf and Dumb Institution, 
the Fresh Air Fund, and the Sailors' Institution, 
of which and some others he was president, 
were all represented there by members of their 
committees. The members of the Board of Trade 
attended in a body with their president The 
Harbour Board also attended, as well as many 
members of the Legislature, the City Council, 
and other leading citizens. Mr. Alexander had 
been senioi: deacon of the Congregational 
Church, but ministers of every Protestant de- 
nomination took part in the funeral service, the 
Archbishop of Quebec paying a beautiful tribute 
to the memory and worth of the dead, and con- 
cluding the service with the benediction. The 



late Sir John Leng, who was present at the 
service, gave at the time a graphic sketch of the 
scene in the Dundee Advertiser, and spoke of 
his friend as one of the best men he had ever 
known, and a most generous supporter of many 
benevolent societies, as well as a laborious 
worker in connection with some of them. 

12. Alison, John: Successful Merchant 
Born 1763 in Dundee, he died 1845. He held 
the office of Distributor of Stamps for forty-six 
years. He was remarkable for the interest he 
took in all charitable institutions, and was 
known for the kindness and consideration with 
which he treated his clerks, all of whom were 
upwards of twenty years in his employment. 
See Norrie's " Dundee Celebrities ; or, Old 
Dundee.'' 

13. Allan, Archibald: Violinist Born 
Forfar, circa 1794, he was a violinist and com- 
poser of great ability, and a player in Nathanael 
Cow's band. As a strathspey player he was 
probably the best of his day. He composed 
" Miss Gray of Carse," a beautiful slow strath- 
spey still much admired. He died in 183 1, it is 
understood as the result of ill-treatment from 
some farm servants when going home from a 
ball. 

14. Allan, James : Violinist Bom Forfar, 
7th October, 1800, he was a most admirable 
violin player, cousin and pupil of No. 13. Ac- 
cording to a competent judge, the nearest 
approach to Neil Cow's style of playing was 
Allan's performance of Daniel Dow^s reel, 
" Bonnie Annie." Comparing the two cousins, 
another authority says that, ''while Jamie had 
no Chance with Archie in strathspey playing, it 
was doubtful if Archie could surpass him at the 
reels." A concert for his benent was given in 
the Kinnaird Hall, Dundee, in 1869. Allan 
possessed a splendid physique, and in his \)iime 
was a remarkably fine-looking man. He died 
at Forfar, 18th August, 1877. 

15. Allan, James Steel: Violinist Bom 
1846, probably m Forfar, he is son of No. 14. 
He played a solo at his father's benefit, which 
at once established his reputation as an artistic 
player. 

16. Allan, Robert B. : Violinist Another 
son of No. 14, he is settled as a music teacher 
in Glasgow. 

Dollar. W. B. R. Wilson. 

(To hi contimud.) 



rw" 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



121 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc.) 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol. VIIL, p. 109 J 
[Supplementary.] 



1743* ^^^ Christian Monthly History ^ or, an 
Account of the Revival and Progress of 
Religion Abroad and at Home. To be published 
monthly. No. i, for November. Acts xv., 3 : 
"And they passed through declaring the Con- 
version of the Gentiles : And they caused great 
joy unto all the Brethren." "Edinburgh: Printed 
by R. Fleming and A. Alison, and sold by the 
Booksellers in Town and Country. MDCCXLIII." 
All this appeared on the first page, and resembled 
a general title for the whole periodical. 8vo, 
40 + 24 pp. , printed across the page ; price for 
copies on fine paper, 6d.; on coarse, 4d. each. 
Arrangements were made for subscribers obtaining 
copies from specified booksellers in Glasgow, 
Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, and Dumfries. 

This publication missed by two years being 
the first religious periodical for Scotland. It was 
preceded by the Weekly History, which began to 
appear in Glasgow in December, 1741, and existed 
for a year. They had a similar purpose, and both 
arose out of the religious revival which character- 
ised 1741-3. The Monthly was edited by James 
Robe, the minister at Kilsyth in whose congrega- 
tion the revival had been very prominent, and who 
is still remembered by his ** Narrative " of it. He 
used his first forty pages as a kind of introduction, 
dating it ''Kilsyth, November 15, 1743,"* in which 
he gave an account of the progress of the 
movement, and described the future contents of 
his journal. The latter were to include revival 
narratives from Scotland, England, and America, 
accounts of conversion from paganism, and of 
opposition encountered, as well as extracts and 
letters of a religious nature. The little periodical 
was accordingly intended to be both a history and 
a book of devotion. To carry out this design, 
Robe said it was ** evident that a very extensive 
correspondence must be established," and he 
appealed to ministers and others to ''send infor- 
mation as free of charge as possible to me or the 
printer of this paper." The second part was 
occupied with narratives from New England, 
Kilsyth, etc. 

Six numbers altogether were sent out, and the 
paper then suspended publication. They had 



* It should be noted that magazines were actually issued at 
the end of the week or mouth for which they were dated, 
and not before tlie mouth began, as now. 



not appeared regularly: "through many unforeseen 
accidents it was not published monthly." Robe 
had determined not to use mere padding in eking 
out his pages. If matter was awanting, " in such 
cases, though it be designed a monthly paper, I 
will rather chuse to slip a month rather than dis- 
appoint my readers." Want of material, however, 
does not appear to have been the cause of the 
stoppage — it was rather the high price asked for 
the paper. 

Publication was resumed on May i, i745t with 
a number dated April, consistmg of 28 pp. , 8vo, 
price 3d. for fine copies, and 2d. for coarse. 

" It was at first designed to have published four sheets 
monthly, but this was found to be too chargeable for 
some people who inclined to be served with it." 

The next three numbers were of 32 pp. each, 
and no printer's name appeared on any of the 
copies examined of the re-start. The intention 
was to send out twelve numbers, but the last 
number traced is No. 10, for 1746 — that probably 
for January of that year. Gillies, in his " His- 
torical Collections," refers to it. The whole issue 
accordingly comprised at least sixteen numbers. 
There is no reason to suppose that Robe did not 
conduct the second series as well as the first. 

A periodical of almost the same name was 
published in London for several years, beginning 
1740. It was called " The Christian History ^ or, a 
General Account of the Progress of the Gospel in 
England, Wales, Scotland, and America, so far as 
the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, his fellow-labourers, and 
assistants are concerned." Robe, however, was 
under no obligation to this paper, except, perhaps, 
in the matter of suggestion for his own title. He 
says he had been accumulating communications 
from many correspondents for some time previous 
to his venturing on printing. 

1757. The Edinburgh Magazine. No. i. July, 1757. 
62 pp. , 8vo, 2 cols, to the page ; price 6d. monthly. 
Motto : " Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia 
libunt omnia nos." " Printed by Walter Ruddi- 
man. Junior, and Company, Morocco's Close, 
Lawn- Market." This imprint was in Vol. V. 
modified to '* Wal. Ruddiman, Jun., W. Auld 
and Company, Morocco's Close, Lawn-Market." 
In the sixth (and last) volume the name reverted 
to the original form. 

The general scDpeof the Edinburgh Magazine 
which is said to have " flourished with great eclat," 
was the same as that of the Scots Magazine, and in 
the preface to the opening volume it had to justify 
its appearance as against the older journal. This 
it did in the following fashion : as to 

'* what induced us to engage in a new magazine when 
this part of the Kingdom was in possession of one 
which had so long and deservedly enjoyed the public 
favour. It will be allowed that the bounds of a 
monthly magazine, besides what it must necessarily 
contain, cannot comprehend every occasional essay, 
poem, etc., which merits notice." 

It declared that there was room in the capital 



122 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [February, 1907 



for both. The contents were of the usual 
character, and comprised a miscellaneous and an 
historical section. In the second volume, 
beginning January, 1758, these two parts were 
separately paged, but this arrangement was soon 
ended. Each year had .a supplementary part 
added. The journal was also embellished with 
maps, engravings, and music. A notice in Vol. V. 
indicated the scope of the magazine as being ** a 
general representation of the Religion, Manners, 
Politics, Entertainments, etc., of Great Britain, 
and in particular of Scotland." The editor, 
who was Walter Ruddiman, Jun., states that 

"to ffratity that appetite for novelty which la natural 
to the human mind, by an agreeable variety, has been 
our constant aim." 

Although soon after its start the projectors were 
able to speak of *' the agreeable reception ^' given 
to the magazine, it came to an end after a career 
of less than six years. The last number was sent 
out December, 1762. It took the unusual course 
of announcing the end in three columns of poetry, 
headed *' Extremum hunc nobis Arethusa concede 
laborem." — Virg. After declaring that, 

" When lifted U) the literary field, 
A pregnant prospect did our labours yield," 

the writer proceeded to make a historical survey of 
the time during which the Magazine had existed, 
and ended by hinting at the troubles that had 
beset its course. He cong^ratulated himself that 

"Thus with success we laboured to improve, 
Our chief ambition was our country's love ; 
Nor flattery knew, nor dipp'd in party rage, 
No foul Invective stain'd the honest page. 

The fault of Fabius was our only crime." 

Rivals, however, came up from the south, and , 
these destroyed the chance the Magatine had, 
even in the city of its birth. 

" To these we stooped not, till they bore along 
Our noblest friends of genius, taste, an<1 song. 
Who, smit with love of novelty, withdrew, j 

And Joined the standards of an alien crew. 1 

'lis vain to struggle when our Friends rebell : j 

When Brutus drew the poniard Caesar fell. 

Yet let us fall, some little praise is due : 
We brought the Laurel, bring the Olive too : 
iSupremely happy if in these approved 
You now vouchsafe the countenance we loved. 
Happy at least ihab war and discord cease, 
And we and Caledonia sleep in peace.'* 

When the Ruddimans sent out their Wefkly 
Magazifie in 1768, they suggested that the new , 
journal was the resurrection of the old, for they 
headed its opening verses ** Resurgo." The 
appearance and scope of the two magazines were 
practically the same. 

1757 (?) The Weekly Journal, The date usually 
assigned for the commencement of this paper is 
1744. I havci however, been unable to trace it 



further back than 1758. The British Museum has 
two numbers for that year, the first of which is 
marked Vol. II., No. i. They are dated February 
17 and 23. 4 pp. , 4to, 3 cols, to the page. Unfor- 
tunately the binder's knife has removed any trace 
of the imprint, if it existed. 

A glimpse into the history of the paper is 
obtained from Robert Kerr's ** Life of William 
Smellie," printer and scientist. In 1765 Smellie 
entered into partnership with Robert and William 
Auld as printers. In 1766 Robert withdrew, and 
his place was taken on December 22 by John 
Balfour. 

" Mr. Balfour appears to have brought along with him 
into this new coiicem the newspaper or Journal which 
formerly had been carried on by Messrs. Hamilton, 
Balfour, and Neil, or. at least, this new company 
certainly did publish a newspaper. " (I., 319.) 

The journal referred to was the Weekly 
youmal. The partnership went on smoothly till 
the end of 1769, but about that time disputes 
began between Smellie and Auld. There were 
several causes of difference, but one of the most 
acute was concerning the youmal. Smellie 
considered the newspaper a losing concern, and 
desired its discontinuance, while Auld ** per- 
tinaciously insisted that it should be continued.'* 
The result was that the latter withdrew from the 
copartnery m 1771. 

How long the youmal lived it is impossible to 
say. William Auld continued as a printer on his 
own account, and probably made arrangments for 
carrying it on. Grant, in his ** Old and New 
Edinburgh," quotes an advertisement from it of 
date 1775. But it could not have long survived 
that year. It is probable that it did not exist in 
1780, and it had certainly disappeared by 1792. 
The Weekly youmal with which the names of 
Ballantyne and Scott are associated had no 
connection with it. 

1764. The Citizen. No. i. Edinburgh: printed in 
the year MDCCLXIV. 16 pp., square 8vo. price 
twopence. 

The first page had the above as a kind of title. 
The text occupied pp. 3-16, p. 2 being blank. 
The whole is devoted to the discussion of the 
wicked ways of the Town Council in the matter 
of how it exercised its ecclesiastical patronage. 

" The conduct of the Town Council of thin city, in re- 
suming the right of patronage to the prejudice of us, 
the citizens, has of late afforded ample matter of con- 
versation and debate. This act of the Council, equally 
unpopular in manner and substance, deprives us, the 
present citizens, of privileges enjoyed by our anoestors 
for these hundred years." 

The Citizen is not a periodical in the ordinary 
sense. It appears here because ' it has been 
catalogued as such in the Bodleian Library. It 
is more of the nature of a fugitive pamphlet 



26 Circus Drive, 
Glasgow. 



W. J. COUPBK 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



t23 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ABERDEEN 

PERIODICALS. 

(Continued from 2nd S., VI 11., p. 00,) 

1903. The Normal Standard (and S., V,, 52). 
This college magazine was short lived. It ran 
monthly to No. 6, December, 1903 ; No. 7 was 
dated March, 1904 ; and the final issue, No. 8, ap- 
peared June, 1904. The first three numbers con- 
sisted of 20 pp. ; Nos. 4-7, 16 pp. ; and the last, 18 pp. 

Reviewing the contents of the above issues as a 
whole, they display considerable talent on the part 
of their respective contributors, several articles hav- 
ing been produced by persons of literary ability. 
Each number was prefaced by an editorial reviewing 
the progress of the scholastic profession, making 
comments on the various departments connected 
with the college, and treating of other themes of 
general interest to subscribers. In addition to the 
permanent columns such as all college magazines 
possess, the contents comprised several articles brim- 
ful of interesting matter on current and other topics. 
Besides this, the issues embodied a fairly large pro- 
portion of verse, of which mention must be made of 
at least one piece, which was written in a delight- 
fully humorous strain. It bore the title of "Ye 
College Tales," and was the work of *'A Josser." 
Miss Jessie Annie Anderson, the poetess, was also 
numbered amongst those who wrote poetry for its 
columns. 

The stoppage of the magazine, which, by the 
way, makes no mention of the fact in its last issue, 
was said to be entirely due to the constant change 
of the students who came for instruction within the 
college walls, some of whom took little or no per- 
manent interest in the welfare of the magazine. 
which represented their interest in many ways. 

1905. The Bon- Accord Buyer* s Guide: Aberdeen's 
Monthly Magazine, No. i, November, 1905, with 
arms of the city of Aberdeen on its cover. Size, 
demy 8vo, double-columned. Each issue consists 
of from 20 to 28 pages, with covers additional, and 
is distributed gratis to the community. The first 
issue was printed at the Rosemount Press, Aber- 
deen ; and the later issues *' Published by the Pro- 
prietor, David Balloch, Advertising Agent, 46 Justice 
Street (now 154 Union Street), Aberdeen,*' and now 
** Printed at the Central Press (John Milne), Belmont 
Street, Aberdeen." 

In addition to the advertisements which are freely 
scattered throughout its pages, the contents are 
usually as follows: — Brief articles pertaining to 
household, medical, and theatrical affairs, humorous 
paragraphs, and sporting gossip in general, all 
specially written by an able staff of contributors. 
This advertising monthly enjoys an extensive circu- 
lation. Nearly all the leading business establish- 



ments in Aberdeen are found utilizing its columns. 
It is conducted by Mr. David Balloch, who is also 
compiler and editor of **The 'O.K.' Street Guide of 
Aberdeen," an indispensable annual (id.), which 
started in 1906, of which 10,000 have been printed 
and circulated. During the royal visit to Aberdeen 
in September, 1906, a "Royal Number" of the 
Bon- Accord Buyers' Guide at a penny, containing 
the official programme, was issued, 28 pp., 4to, 
double-columned, and covers additional, and beauti- 
fully illustrated. 

1906. The Aberdeen Taller: Sporting, Dramatic, 
Musical, Topical. No. i, Saturday evening* toth 
February, 1906. Size, demy 4to, 4 pp., treble-col- 
umned, price one halfpenny. Although the fourth 
page bears the imprint " Printed and Published by 
[Patrick Arthur] Markey and [A E.] Green, 3 Rose- 
mount Viaduct, Aberdeen," it appears that pages 1-3 
of the first and only issue of this weekly were printed 
at the Rosemount Press, Farmers' Hall Lane, Aber- 
deen, the fourth being produced at their own premises, 
where C[harles] Diamond also publishes and prints 
The Aberdeen Catholic Herald, 

Mr. William Mackintosh ('• Gallic," late of Bo/i- 
Accord, now of The North Magazine), the well-, 
known dramatic critic, was its editor. His article 
entitled "At the Play'' included messages of good- 
will received by him from Messrs. Herbert Beer- 
bohm Tree and Martin Harvey, both of theatrical 
fame. But the venture proved unsuccessful from 
the first, the reason being that the football com- 
munity, whom this weekly was specially intended 
to reach, were being better catered for by the 
Dundee press, with a larger supply of news de- 
voted to the national sport of Scotland, hence there 
was no reason for the Tatler*s appearance upon 
the scene, and a change of organ was deemed un- 
necessary. 

The enterprising publishers intended to hold the 
first three pages in readiness for the scores an- 
nounced every alternate Saturday evening during 
the football season, and directly these became known 
the information was to be set up for the fourth im- 
mediately, and the paper printed off, thus enabling 
them to impart the information to football enthusiasts 
long before other sporting papers arrived in the city. 

A number of advertisements appeared on pages 
2-4. I learn there were 2,000 printed of the first 
issue, and that the paper's title, which is really a 
good one, and telegraphic cypher have been duly 
registered in case it should reappear at some future 
date. 

1906. Gordon's College Former Pupils' Associa- 
tion, An annual, distributed gratis. Size, 4to, 
7x9, 22 pp. , including a beautiful coloured plate of 
the college arms. Imprint on last page: " W. & W. 
Lindsay, Printers, Market Street, Aberdeen." 

A prefatory note in the inaugural issue informs 
pupils that ** This booklet makes no pretensions to 
the name and distinction of magazine. Its primary 
purpose is to preserve a record of the membership 



124 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [February, 1907 



of the Former Pupils' Association, and, meantime 
at least, it is not proposed that it should be issued 
more frequently than once a year. Articles of a 
literary character will occasionally appear, written 
by members only, together with notes on matters of 
general interest, but the feature of real interest will 
be the list of names of members. The publication 
of such a pamphlet has frequently been discussed at 
annual meetings, but for some reasori or other has 
been postponed. It is expected that members will 
be prepared to welcome the first number, that they 
will be prepared to overlook shortcomings that a 
more critical and less indulgent public might feign 
to discover ; in any case, they will remember that 
there is no regular or editorial staff to accept respon- 
sibilities or make atonement" 

An article on " Gordons Abroad," by J. H. Harvey 
Pirie, B.Sc, M.B., Ch.B. ; Lord Provost (now Sir 
Alexander) Lyon's address delivered on Gordon's 
College prize day, June 28, 1906 (accompanied by 
portrait) ; a poem addressed ''To Gordon's College," 
by Gildart J. Walker, grandson of the Very Rev. 
Dean William Walker, LL.D., the historian; rules 
and constitution of the Association ; and list of 1 
office-bearers and members of the Association — all 
alumni of the College — are the subject matter of the 
first issue. To those who are not acquainted with 
the history of Gordon's College, it may be added 
that the historians of this great educational establish- 
ment have been the late Mr. Alexander Walker, 
LL.D., F.S.A.Scot., and Mr. Robert Anderson, the 
present editor of the A herdeen younial. 



GORDONS OF .AUCHINREATH. 
('2nd S., /K, 155; K., U, 63; VL, 61,) 



Aberdeen. 



Robert Murdoch. 



Principal Rainy's Genealogy. — A writer 

in The Scottish Revie^v supplies some interesting 

particulars about the Highland ancestry of the 

late Principal Rainy. Dr. Rainy's grandfather, 
Rev. George Rainy of Creich, was married to 
Anne Robertson, daughter of Rev. George 
Robertson, Kincardine, Ross-shire, and a great- 
grandson of Robertson of Kindeace. (Mr. 
Gladstone's mother, daughter of Provost Robert- 
son, Dingwall, was a great-granddaughter of the 
same Robertson of Kindeace.) Dr. Rainy's 
mother, on the other hand, was a daughter of 
Captain Robert Gordon, who married Christina 
Munro, daughter of Hugh Munro, the son of 
William Munro of Achany, Sutherlandshire. 
This Hugh Munro, Dr. Rainy's great-grand- 
father, married a daughter of George Munro of 
Culcearn, Ross-shire, who was the second son 
of Sir Robert Munro, twenty-fifth Baron of 
Foulis. The Principal was also the first cousin 
to the late Rev. Dr. Robert Gordon Balfour, and 
another cousin was Mr. C. S. Parker, formerly 
M.P. for Perth. — Evening Express, Jan. 12, 1907. 



The following letter may help to indicate the 
family to which John Gordon, "Commissary 
Depute and Sheriff Clerk for the Bishopric and 
Shire of Moray" (who is stated to have died at 
Elgin on 12th July, 1777), belonged : — 

DrSir 

I understand M^* Grant, Lord Elchies's Sone 
is named Sherriff for Murray and Nairn, Who 
Surely will have the nameing of his own Clerk, at 
Least None will be offered him heM object to. 
Your Accquaintance John Gordon in Craighiehead 
would be very ffitt for the Employment, and very 
Serviceable and obliging to the Judge ; in many 
things he would make him easie, being Experiencd 
not only in the formes of that Court, but allso 
versant and well accquainted in Countrie affairs 
Such as mostly ocurr there. If it was not going 
too farr, I would Earnestly Solicite your interest 
with Lord Elchies in his behal£ He will be 
Extreamly gratefull him Self, and I shall State 
upon it as ane obligation of my own, which if Ever 
in my power Shall be gratefully repay ed. I hope 
youl pardon my freedom And Allow me to Continue 

D'Sir 
Your most Ob* humble Sev* 
John Gordon 
Foch» I"* Aprile 1748 



Endorsed :- 



To 



Rot. Grant Esq^ of Tammorr 

Also, in Tammore's writing : — 

Mr Jo Gordon's Letter Aprill 1748 Desiring to 
Recomend Auchinreith to be Shereff Clerk. 

It may be assumed that Tammore did not fail 
to respond to the appeal of the writer of the 
letter (who was the Duke of Gordon's factor), 
and that Lord Elchies, on being satisfied as to 
Mr. Gordon's fitness for the appointment, was 
but too glad to grant anything m the way of a 
favour to Tammore, tried and trusted manager 
of his estate of Easter Elchies, which his lord- 
ship was able to visit but seldom, and but for 
brief periods. H. D. McW. 



Henry Farquharson.— This Scot, who did 
much for the instruction of the Russian Navy, 
and who has been dealt with in our December 
and January issues, is the subject of a very 
interesting article (by a Russian) in The Sphere 
of December 29th, 1906. 



Vol. VI II. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



125 



ABERDEEN BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



THE SCOT AND HIS REGIMENTS. 



Addenda to "Aberdeen Printers." 

(2nd S., VII., 200, /.??, 1G7.) 



Through the kindness of the Principal of the 
Theological College of the Scottish Episcopal 
Church, Edinburgh, I had recently an oppor- 
tunity of examining a small volume of tracts 
preserved in the library of the college. This I 
found to contain two Aberdeen printed "Theses," 
which are not described in the late Mr. Edmond's 
"Aberdeen Printers," or in my own " Biblio- 
graphy of the Universities of Aberdeen." 1 
append a note of these :— 

171 1. Peacock, George. THESES PHILOSO- 
PHICJE, I Quas, A. P. D. O. M. ingenui ali- 
quot Adolescentes | Laureze Magisterialis candi- 
DATi. I In celeberrimo Colhgio marischallano, 
I Universitatis CAROLINJE abredenensis | ad 
diem 19 Aprilis^ \ Publice propugnabunt, horis & 
loco solitis. I Praeside georgio peacock | [Arms 
of Marischal Coll., and quotation] I - I abredeis 



Excudebant Successores jOANNis forbesii | urbis 
& Universitatis Typographi, Amio 171 1. 

63 In. (badly clippwl). I ]K Pp. 8. Title within 
borden; veno, Dedication to Williani, Lord Haddo, 
signed by^elghteen candidates (bnt several names have 
been cut 'off: Fasttiy il. 287); pp. 3-8, Theses in small 
pica roraan. 

1722. Hardie, Patrick, ampmssimo ac ornatis- 
siMO I domino I D. GULIELMO FORBES I de Craigie- 
var &c. Equiti Baronctto \ Almse hujus Acade- 
mic Rectori | Magnifico, Dignissimo, non mi- | 
nus propriis Virtutibus quam ge- { nerosa prosapift 
Illustri. I Theses hasce Philosophicas in Deditissimi 
aflfectus & I perpetuae observantia; tesseram, D. D, 
C, Q. PATRICIUS HARDIB PfSBses | Et hi CANDI- 
DAT I Laurea Magisteriali Condecorandi. \ [Thirty- 
six names, fourteen in italics: Fastis ii., 298] | 
Qui A. D. O. M. Theses hasce cum Annexis publice 
propugnabunt, in \ Collegio Novo Universitatis 
Carolina^ abredonensis, ad 11 \ Diem Aprilis, 
1722. H. L. Q. S. 

{Colophon^ abredeis, Excudebat jacobus 
NicoL, URBIS & I Universitatis Typographus, 
An. Dom. 1722, 

6} In. GMMily clipped). [ ]■». Pp. 8- Title (or Dedica- 
tion), top and bottom borders : pp. 2-8, Theses in small 
pica roman, Annexa (Italics) and Colophon on p. 8. 

Patrick Hardie was regent from 1717 till his death 
in 1724. 

P. J. Anderson. 



Cant Family. — A list of births and deaths 
in the Cant family, of Manningtree, Essex, 
appears in F. A. Crisp's "Fragmenta Genea- 
logica," X., 13. 



There seems to be a general consensus of 
opinion that we are witnessing a developement of 
national pride in Scotland, which has hitherto 
been exhibited mainly by the Rev. David 
Macrae and Mr. Theodore Napier. Perhaps it 
has something to do with the bicentenary of 
the Union ; but it is undoubtedly increasing 
(despite the curious sneers of some Scots daily 
newspapers) ; and the agitation on the Scots 
Greys is only one expression of it. As a matter 
of fact, the Scot has long been touchy on the 
military side of the question. This was strikingly 
shown at the historic meeting in the great hall at 
Stafford House on February 17, 1 881, to protest 
against Mr. Childers' proposal about the tartan. 
His idea was to link the 71st with the 73rd, the 
72nd with the 78th, and the 42nd and the 79th 
in a uniform tartan. The proposal resulted in a 
strong petition to the Queen, influentially signed. 
It urged that 

the tartan dress, hitherto worn by the various 
Highland regiments as distinctive of the districts 
in which they were raised, and in which dress they 
have fought with honour and glory in every part 
of the globe, be not changed, believing that such 
distinctive tartans add to the esprit de corps, and 
that such changes as are contemplated are contrary 
to the instinct of the true Highlander. 

The petition was backed by the meeting in 
Stafford House, when speeches were deliverd by 
the Duke of Sutherland, the Duke of Athole, 
the Earl of Wemyss (then Lord Elcho), Sir 
Donald Currie, and Lord Archibald Campbell. 
The enthusiasm was kept agog by eight pipers 
playing the pibroch, their pipes blazoned with 
the armorial bearings of their lords. A fiery 
cross was afterwards brought into the hall, and 
passed from hand to hand. The most dramatic 
incident, however, occured when Lord Archibald, 
who wore the kilt (you will find a picture of the 
scene in T/te Illustrated London News of 
February 26, 1881), declared that he should take 
care that the Queen and Mr. Childers knew that 
they were in earnest. **And now,'^ he said, 
unsheathing his dirk, which he kissed,"according 
to the good old Highland fashion, I swear to 
preserve the tartan on my dirk." The effect on 
the audience was electric. The weapon was 
handed round, and kissed by The Macintosh, 
who occupied the chair, and by all the important 
gentlemen present. Some of them indeed shed 
tears, and then burst into a shout of intense 
enthusiasm. 

The old objection that tartans were modern 
was repudiated by Lord Archibald, who gave a 



126 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[February, 1907 



most interesting account of the method of 1 
producing many of the colours, in which he 
repudiated the idea that all tartans were the ' 
inventions of modern spinners : , 

The Highlanders of old did not wander to foreign 1 
lands, or borrow from foreign looms : their eyes ; 
were accustomed to seek the dyes that lay at the , 
door. They took the blue hyacinth for the purple of 
their tartan. They took the blaeberry also for the 
same purpose. They used the alder bark for black, 
the willow for flesh tints. They sought their 
lovely crimsons and gorgeous yellows from the 
moss on the great grey rocks, called crotal, also 
another variety called crotal dubh, or black crotal. 
They used the plant called rue, which grows low 
in the sands, bmding the same and preventing it 
from drifting in our Western isles, in such 
quantities for their reds that at last the plucking 
of this herb was forbidden, for it loosened the 
sands and spoiled the crops. General Stewart says 
he saw tartans 200 years old which still re- 
tained much of their original brightness. The cup 
moss^a crotal moss — was gathered in 1808 to the 
value of £500 in the Aberdeen district alone. 
With bullocks* blood and lime Highlanders could 
also dye tartan. 



Queries. 

807. Inolis Family. — What is known of this 
family, who lived at Fairlev, Countesswells .' 

J. M. B. 

808. A Mackie Marriage. — Arthur Trevelyan, 
born July 19, 1802, married at Aberdeen, May g, 
1835, Elizabeth Mackie, and died February 6, 1878. 
(Crisp's "Fragmenta Genealogica," V., 4.) Who 
was Elizabeth Mackie? 

809. Captain George Gordon, R.N., of 
Greenhaugh. — What is known of this officer ? He 
was a son of James Gordon of Little Folia. 

J. M. B. 

810. Sir Cosmo Gordon.— In 1824 Knight and 
Lacey published a pamphlet (80 pp. ) entitled, '* Life 
and Genius of Lord Byron, by Sir Cosmo Gordon." 
Who was Sir Cosmo ? J. M. B. 

8IZ. LoNGMORE Family. — Barbara Gordon, 
daughter of James Gordon of Little Folia by his 
second marriage, married James Longmore. Had 
they any issue ? J. M. B. 

8X2. Adam Gordon, Navy Surgeon. — He 
seems to be the Adam (son of James, of Little Folia) 
who was at Marischal College in 1834. What is 
known of him ? J. M. B. 

8x3. Gordon- Anderson Marriage. — Jane Gor- 



don, daughter of James Gordon of Little Folia (who 
died 1823), married "a Mr. Anderson, R.N." Any 
information about their descendants (if any), his 
family, and Christian name ? 

J. M. Bulloch. 

8x4. Tinder Boxes in Church. — The Evening 
Express of 12th January this year states:— "The 
death has occurred at Headley, in Hampshire, of 
Mr. William Suter, a nonagenarian. The old gentle- 
man has a very vivid memory, and amongst other 
things used to relate how, when he was a boy, it 
was the custom for an old woman to stand at the 
church door while the congregation was assembling 
for evening service, and supply to the worshippers 
as they passed a box containing tinder, flint, and 
rushlights, to enable them to follow the service/* 
Were tinder boxes ever used in Scottish churches ? 

Robert Murdoch. 

8x5. Jardine, Rannie, Dundas.— In his auto- 
biography (Grampian Club, i860) Dr. Alexander 
Carlyle mentions the sudden death, in June, 1766, 
of Dr. John Jardine, minister of the Tron Church. 
He says that he and a party had been engaged to 
dine with Mr. Henry Dundas the same evening, but 
that it was put ofl", as ** Dr. Jardine was a near rela- 
tion of his lady,'*' meaning Mrs. Henry Dundas. In 
what way were they related ? Mrs. Dundas was 
Elizabeth, daughter of Captain David Rannie of 
Melville Castle, and Elizabeth Bayley. Were the 
Jardines and the Bay leys connected, and who were 
the parents of Elizabeth Bayley ? 

92 Eaton Terrace, H. A. Cockburn. 

London, S.W. 

8x6. Alexander Gordon of Carnousie. — Could 
any of your correspondents inform me from what 
branch of the Gordon family Alexander Gordon of 
Carnousie was descended, who was the first Gordon 
named in the exceptions from the Act of Indemnity, 
1747 ? Loudon Hill. 

8x7. James Watson's "History of Printing," 
Edinburgh, 1713.— What was Mr. J. P. Edmond's 
authority for saying that the preface to this book 
was " written by Mr. John Spotswood, advocate and 
Professor of Law," as he does in Chapter I. of 
*' Annals of Scottish Printing"? The preface is 
signed "James Watson," and is written throughout 
in the first personal singular, the pronouns always 
referring to Watson. In its course, note is made 
that Spotswood had set up as a bookseller. 

Calder Ross. 

8x8. Caddell, alias MacPherson (2nd S., V., 
123, 158). — A curious variation of Macfarlane's des- 
cription of the wife of Alexander I^slie, first laird 
of Kininvie, occurs in Burke's '* Landed Gentry of 
Great Britain" (1906), where she is described as 
" Margaret Calder of Napherson." Is this a mis- 
take for ** Calder or Macpherson " ? If not, where is 
Napherson ? H. D. McW. 



Vol. vrri. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



127 



8x9. Duff Family. — In a pedigree of a Mack- 
intosh family, dated 1771, I find the marriage of a 
Katherine Duff, ** daughter of John Duff of Bean- 
machloch [or Beanmakeloch], sister of James Duff 
of Corsindae, and grand-daughter [neptis] of the 
laird of Keithmore, who was grandfather of William 
Duff, l^rd Braco, and Earl of Fife." But was not 
James Duff, first of Corsindie, descended from a 
younger brother of Alexander of Keithmore? If 
so, his sister Katherine would be grand-niVr^, not 
grand-daughter, of Keithmore. Her mother's name 
is given as Isabella Pringle. Where is Beanmach- 
loch or Beanmakeloch, and what is the correct 
spelling? A. M. M. 



answers. 



466. "Blackwood's Magazine" (2nd S., VI., 
45* 63)* — I'wo years ago the question was asked 
why George Buchanan's portrait was chosen to 
adorn the front cover of Blackwood. The following 
is firom the number for July, 1906, which contains a 
centenary article on the scholar by Charles Whibley. 
The figure ** has been variously mistaken for Chris- 
topher North, Dr. Maginn, and *Uhe Ettrick Shep- 
herd." While some have declared him the author of 
the *Book of the Farm,' others are confident that he 
is the founder of the house [of Blackwood]. And it 
will come as a disappointment to many that he is 
none other than George Buchanan, who was once 
universally believed to be the greatest man of letters 
ever born in Scotland, and who, even though he has 
outlived his glory, deserves all the respect that can 
be shown him on this, the four hundredth anniver- 
sary of his birth." From which it is apparent that 
Blackwood itself had no special reason. 

Evan Odd. 

780. The Name McKelvie (and^., VIII., 62, 
80). — I suggest that this name may be a form of 
Mcllvain. The Mcllvains are included in Mr. Frank 
Adam's ** What is my Tartan ? " among the septs of 
the Clan MacBean or MacVean, and Mr. Adam 
gives MacGeachie and MacGeachin as forms of 
MacEachan. The MacBeans were an important 
tribe of Clan Chattan. The handsome tartan of the 
MacBeans is reproduced in most books on clan 
tartans. In the late Mr. Charles Eraser- Mackintosh's 
**• Minor Septs of Clan Chattan " (in which the 
MacBeans are fully dealt with), is the following : — 
"According to the Rev. Lachlan Shaw, the first 
MacBean came out of Lochaber, in the suit of Eva, 
heiress of Clan Chattan, and settled near Inverness. 
The MS. history of the Mackintoshes says in cor- 
roboration that Bean vie Coil Mor (of whom the 
Clan Vean had their denomination) lived in Loch- 
aber, and was a faithful servant to Mackintosh 
against the Red Comyn, who possessed Inverlochie, 
who was a professed enemy of Mackintosh." 
Whether the prefixed " II " of Mcllvain and " El " of 
*• McKelvie" (or '* McElvie") has reference to "Coil 



Mor " or to Gillies (a rather favourite name with the 
MacBeans), I cannot say. The first MacBean of 
Tomatin was Bean MacBean, styled " Bean Mac- 
Coil vie Gillie Phadrick." At the battle of Culloden. 
when the Argyle militia broke down a wall which 
enabled them to attack the Highlanders in fiank, 
Major Gillies MacBean, who stood 6 feet 4^ inches 
in height, stationed himself at the gap, and as the 
assailants passed through, cut down with his broad- 
sword no fewer than thirteen, including Lord Robert 
Ker, and only fell when attacked by the enemy in 
numbers. In Logan's *' Clans of the Scottish High- 
lands" are quoted some seven verses on this incident, 
which appeared in a Northern periodical, and which 
' are said to have been one of BjTon's early effusions. 
I select two verses: — 

The cloudt may pour down on Culloden's red plain, 
But .their waters ahalUflow o'er its crimson In vain ; 
For their drop* shall seem few to the tears for the slain. 
Bat mine are for thee, my brave Gillies MacBain ! 

With thy back to the wall and thy breast to the taiye, 
Full flashed thy claymore in the face of their charge ; 
The blood of their boldest that barren turf stain, 
But alas ! thine is reddest there, Oillies MacBain ! 

It would be interesting to learn in what district the 
name of McKelvie prevailed or prevails, and also 
what variations in the spelling of the name are to be 
met with in the local records. 

H. D. McW. 

803. Dr. George Bethune (2Pd S., VIII., no). 
— Rev. George Washington Bethune, D.D., author 
of '*The Auld Scotch Sangs," was bom of Scotch 
parentage at New York in March, 1805. I regret I 
have been unable to get the exact day, or to find 
any information regarding his early life. He gradu- 
ated at Dickenson College, Carlisle, Penn., and then 
entered the Dutch Reformed Church. He was 
stationed at different times at Rhinbeck, Utica, 
Philadelphia (where many of his works were pub- 
lished), and ultimately settled in Brooklyn, where 
he was residing in 1858. Dr. Bethune is well known 
as the editor of an edition of Walton's *' Compleat 
Angler," which has been highly praised. It has an 
exceedingly valuable bibliographical preface, etc. 
The author of the notice on Dr. Bethune in Alli- 
bone's "Dictionary of English Literature" writes 
that Dr. Bethune said to him regarding this book, 
" I lost no time by it, for it was the occupation of 
moments while others would have been looking out 
at the windows." This edition of Walton is also 
mentioned in Stedman's "American Anthology." 
Dr. Bethune is also the author of a volume of short 
poems entitled, " Lays of Love and Faith, and other 
Poems." The New York Literary World describes 
those poems as " particularly melodious and tender, 
and there is a relish of mingled scholarship and fun 
in some of the epigrams, most rare in those days." 
In 1840 Dr. Bethune pubhshed "The Prospect of 
Art in the United States," which was an address 
delivered before the Artists' Fund Society of Phila- 
delphia in May of that year. " The Duties of Edu« 



128 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES [February, 1907 



cated Men," an oration delivered before the literary 
societies of Dickenson College in July, 1843, was 
published the same year (1H43). In 1845 he pub- 
lished *'A Plea for Study," an oration before the 
literary society of Yale College on igth August, 
1845. During the next ten years he delivered many 
lectures, a few of which have been published. On 
account of ill-health, he resigned his position at 
Brooklyn in 1859, and went to Italy. In the follow- 
ing year he returned to New York City, but his 
health again broke down, and he returned to Italy 
in 1861. He died at Florence on 27th April, 1862. 
He was author and editor of a large number of 
volumes, a few of which will be found under his 
name in the British Museum catalogue. 

J. B. T. 



Dr. Bethune died at Florence on Sunday evening, 
27th April, 1862, after preaching in the forenoon in 
the Free Church of Scotland there. His body was em- 
balmed and taken to America, where it was interred 
in the family vault at Greenwood Cemetery, New 
York. A very full and interesting memoir oi him 
was written by his friend, Dr. A. R. Van Nest, and 
published in New York in 1867. If your enquirer, 
Mr. Harvey, will send me his address, I shall be 
happy to lend him the volume. 

Dollar. Robert Paul. 



Xftetature. 



Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton have published 
a beautiful addition to the bibliography of a 
fascinating subject. The book is entitled *' Mary, 
Queen of Scots : with Pictures in Colour by 
James Orrock, R.I., and Sir Janjes Linton, R.I. 
The Story by Walter Wood. Edited by W. 
Shaw Sparrow." 4to, 10x7 ins.; 133 pp.; price 
15s.net; published 1907. 

The editor's preface tells us that the object of 
the book is to show the Queen in her artistic 
and personal aspect : to quote himself, " the 
text, unencumbered with fruitless doubts and 
entangled disputes, is written to be read and 
remembered." 

The story itself is lucidly and vividly written : 
many small details are so told as to dwell in 
one's memory. Mary's want of knowledge of 
the English language is noted with a quotation 
of her own pretty acknowledgment of the fact. 
But the history, especially the description of the 
Carberry Hill disaster, reads more like fiction. 
Of the illustrations one can say that each is a 
work of art, and such a book could not have 
been produced less than a dozen years ago. 
During the past half century the arts have 
shown great advance, but none of them so much, 
perhaps, as that of the graphic arts. Books 



which now possess illustrations of the most 
perfect kind — more, indeed, like the rich missals 
of the Middle Ages executed by the hand of 
monks and nuns of that period — are reproduced, 
like this notable example, deliciously perfect 
and marvellously cheap. The process of re- 
production is known as the three-colour process. 
The type and binding are equally artistic, and 
the book is one to be recommended to all lovers 
of historical subjects and fine pictorial represen- 
tations. A word of praise must be given to the 
title page, designed by Jennie Wylie. 



Scots JBoofts of tbe /ftontb. 



Darroch, Alexander, M.A. The Place and 
Function of the Scottish Universities in our Edu- 
cational System. 8vo. Net, 6d. Blackwood. 



8vo. Net, 
Everett. 



Davies, C. J. The Scottish Terrier. 
3s. 6d. 

Dobell, Bertram. Catalogue of Books Printed 
for Private Circulation. (Contains Notes on 
several Scottish Rarities.) 8vo. Net, 4s. 6d. 

London : Published by the Author, 
77 Charing Cross Road, W.C. 

Ford, Robert. The Heroines of Burns, and their 
Celebrating Songs. 410. Net, 5s. 

Paisley : Alex. Gardner. 

Fyfe, W. T. Edinburgh under Sir Walter Scott. 
8vo. I OS. 6d. Constable. 

Qlbson, W. Milne. The Old Scottish Precentor : 
Historical, Biogra;.hical, Anecdotal, and Reminis- 
cent. Illustrated. 8vo. Net, 2s. 6d. 

^ Aberdeen Daily jfournal Office. 

Poems of A. Macgregor Rose (Gordon). Collected 
and Edited, with a Life of the Author, by Robert 
Dey, M.A. 8vo. Net, 3s. 

Manchester : John Heywood, Ltd. 

Sinclair, William. Scottish Life and Humour. 
8vo. Net, IS. and 2s. 

Haddington : Sinclair & Co. 

Smith, D. Crawford, F.S.A.Scot. The His- 
torians of Perth. 13 Illustrations. 4to. Net, 
7s. 6d. Perth : John Christie. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. Ed. 

Printed and Published at The Roseraount Presa, Aberdeen. 
Literary communications should be addreraed to the JSditoTy 
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SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL. vin. 1 Vn n 
2nd 8BRIBS. J ^^ ^' 9- 



March, 1907. 



JtEGISTERRD 



{ 



Price 3d. 
Per Post 4d. 



CONTENTS. 
NOTRS :— Page 

•* Sawney Beane" 129 

The Birthplace of George Ridpath 132 

Lawrance and Lawrence Families in AberdeenBhire, 
1696 134 

Notable Men and Women of Forfarshire 137 

MiROR Notes:— 

James Clyde, LL.D.— A Buchan Farm BJiyme 131 

Glencoe Massacre Relic 133 

Scott and Vrquhart Families — Madeline Smith — 
Butler's " liObster '* Simile— Geological Note 136 

Cteneral Hugh Mercer 140 

QumiES:— 

"Scoto-Brittannicus"— " Rose Douglas" 140 

Drumqnhassill — Cardno Family — Lunan Families- 
Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire-^ames Wat- 
son, Printer, Ed Inboigh— Andrew Bisset— Musical 
Terms: "Treble," '•Bimull-Clieff" 141 

PtAtrick Grant. Lord Elchies — Dr. Peter Grant — 
Joseph Gordon 142 

Answers:— 

Blackwood's Magazine — Barclay of U17 *- Adam 
Donald — Moses Provan 142 

McKelvie, Mcllrain — " Hail, Smiling Mom " — A 
Mackie Marriage— Alexander Gordon of Camousie 143 

James Watson's " Hlstoiy of Printing," Edinbuigh, 
1713-Duff Family 144 

litbratube 144 

Scots Books of the Month 144 



ABERDEEN, MARCH, 1907. 



"SAWNEY BEANE." 
(2nd S., Vlll., 101.) 

It is not my intention to follow '^ Alba'' along 
the bypaths of belligerent patriotism into which 
his pursuit of Sawney Beane has seduced him. 
Suffer me only to say in passing how much I re> 
gret some of the expressions he has permitted 
himself to use in speaking of names so deservedly 
honoured in the literary world as those of Mr. 
S. R. Crockett and Mr. Andrew Laing, not to 
mention others less closely connected with 
Scotland by birth. My purpose in writing is 
rather to dispute the assertion, which forms the 



pi^ce de resistance of his interesting contribution 
to the January number of Scottish Notes and 
Queries, to the effect that the story of Sawney 
Beane is purely an English fabrication. In 
making this assertion " Alba " is something less 
than just to the genius (or, shall we say, the 
depravity.'*) of his own countrymen. At all 
events, the story of Sawney Beane, as issued 
from the press of Milner and Sowerby, was 
borrowed or lifted—" convey, the wise it call " — 
from " Historical and Traditional Tales of the 
South of Scotland," published, and to a 
considerable extent written by, John Nicholson 
of Kirkcudbright. I agree with "Alba" as 
regards the "Grub Strieet flavour" of the 
English compilation. The moral reflections so 
dear to the average Scottish heart, occurring in 
Nicholson's narrative, are ruthlessljr suppressed 
by the English penman ; while the culinary details 
of the story, understood to be more congenial to 
the soul of the typical Englishman, are carefully 
and conscientiously transcribed. In other 
respects, however, Milner and Sowersb/s 
publication is merely an abbreviation of the 
Scottish version. 

The story of Sawney Beane— one of the most 
repulsive, incredible, and impossible stories 
that was probably ever penned — is not to be 
lightly dismissed as a fabrication. It is 
mentioned, I believe, in Hector Boece's "History 
of the Scots." Not having the "History" at hand, 
I am unable to give the exact reference, but I 
understand that it occurs somewhere near the 
close of the book. Nicholson gives no author- 
ity for his narrative, but affirms it to be a 
tradition thoroughly well attested by historical 
evidence. "There's no smoke without some fire" 
— as the proverb hath it. The gruesome tale 
undoubtedly rests on a basis of fact, which in 
course of time became overlaid (as such tales 
are apt to be) with a mass of fictitious details 
and horrific embellishments. What John 
Nicholson did was simply to take the tradition 
at its high-water mark, with all its imaginative 
adornments, blending indiscriminately fact and 
fiction, and presenting a photograph (so to call 
it) of the whole for the benefit of succeeding 
generations. "Alba" does not need to be 



I30 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[March, 1907 



reminded what a boundless capacity there is in 
tradition to expand and accumulate materials 
as years roll on. An illustration of this occurs 
within my own recollection. In my boyhood's 
days, forty years after the crimes had been 
committed, the country was still shuddering 
over the frightful atrocities perpetrated by 
Burke and Hare in Edinburgh. Rumour 
literally ran riot over the matter. The victims 
who perished, according to popular report, 
were to be numbered not by scores but by 
hundreds ; while the mysterious and awful word 
"burking," heard in whispers on the lips of 
their elders, made children afraid to venture 
out of doors at night, or even to go to sleep in 
the dark. In common with most people, I, a 
credulous youngster at the time, with a taste for 
"bluggy" stories, was profoundly convinced of 
the truth of the appalling details. When, how- 
ever, at a later date, I read the true version of 
the tragedies, it came upon one with a distinct 
sense of disappointment to learn that only 
sixteen victims (I think) had been done to death, 
instead of the hundreds asserted by popular 
tradition. Somehow it seemed as if the murder- 
ous ruffians had fallen immeasurably short of 
the giddy grandeur to which the voice ot Rumour 
had raised them. John Nicholson, however, 
made no mistake of this kind. He seized the 
tradition full blown, and, apparently, current in 
his day, and wrote it down with all its ghastly 
accretions, gross exaggerations, and unspeak- 
able infamy, with the result that credulous 
people like the English of "Alba's" acquaintencc, 
finding the story in print, accepted its statements 
as they would the statements of the Bible, 
thereby moving " Alba " to wrath and gnashing 
of teeth. 

The facts of the case, I imagine, were some- 
thing like these. During a peculiarly lawless 
and unsettled period in Scottish history, when 
every man did pretty much what was right in 
his own eyes, a worthless scoundrel, by name 
Sawney Beane, or Bane, with his equally 
worthless wife, betook himself from East 
Lothian to the wilds of Galloway. Using a 
license quite permissible to writers of historical 
fiction, Mr. S. R. Crockett has chosen to post- 
date Sawney Beane by nearly 200 years. It was 
during the reign of James I. of Scotland (not 
James VI. of Scotland and I. of England) that 
the miscreant lived. I speak on the authority of 
Nicholson. In Galloway, husband and wife, 
with their infamous family, took up their abode 
by the sea-shore, in a cave, concerning which 
tradition has some marvellous tales to tell. 
There they led a degraded, savage, brutalized, 
mode of existence, subsisting by plunder, 



maintaining themselves by sheep-stealing and 
cattle-lifting, and occasionally murdering those 
who resisted their depredations. Their nefa- 
rious career continued over a period of several 
years, until, in the end, the king in person, 
returned from his long captivity in England, put 
a summary stop to their brutal crimes. Whether 
they were cannibals or not is somewhat difficult 
to determine. Nicholson's narrative strongly 
asserts that this was the case, but speaks, at the 
same time, of mutilated bodies of victims being 
flung into the sea, which does not quite accord 
with the cannibalistic theory. The supposed 
relics of humanity discovered in the loathly den 
where the miscreants were finally captured 
were, in all probability, nothing more than the 
bones of animals, and unsightly half-consumed 
fragments of slaughtered sheep and cattle. The 
anatomy of the human body was not so well 
understood in those days as it is at present. 

At the same time it must be borne in mind 
that cannibalism has more than once been 
attributed to the people of Scotland. In the 
early centuries of the Christian era, St. Jerome 
testified from personal knowledge that the Scots 
were addicted to man-eating. Fortunately, 
however, for " Alba's " perturbed feelings, " the 
Scots," at the date referred to by the saint, 
meant "people from Ireland," not the " natives 
of Scotland." Then we have the account of the 
sanguinary Sawney Beane and his infamous 
brood — reputed cannibals all of them ; and 
again, in the reign of James II. of Scotland, 
there is the story of the " Ogre of the Sidlaws" — a 
tale even better attested by history than the one 
at present under discussion. There may, alas, 
be some truth in these stones. Such blots on 
the fair fame of Scodand are not altogether 
impossible. France, and Italy, and perhaps 
every civilised nation under the sun, have 
similar examples of abnormal depravity to 
deplore in their annals. But even granted that 
two instances of cannibalism are traceable in 
Scottish history, the fact will not brand the 
whole inhabitants of the country with the stigma 
anthropophagy, as " Alba " seems to apprehend. 
" One swallow does not make a summer " — nor 
two, for that matter. If indeed it could be 
scientifically proved that the teeth of Scottish 
people are sharper than those of their neighbours, 
distinctly betoicening anthropophagenous pro- 
clivities, whereas the Englishman, being a rumi- 
nating animal of the bovine type, is incapable of 
such mastication — if that theory could be estab- 
lished, the accusation against Scotland might 
assume a serious aspect But, until that day ar- 
rives, "Alba" may safely leave i^orant English- 
meo wallowing in abuse of things Scottish, to 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



131 



the contempt which their rudeness and stupidity 
deserve. Suffer me to allude to an incident 
which shows, I think, how such aspersions 
may best be met. Between thirty and forty 
years ago, two large religious denominations in 
Scotland were desirous of becoming united. 
After protracted negotiations, the proposal, for 
a time, had to be abandoned, owing, to some 
extent, to the opposition of a few devout persons 
in the remote Highlands, who refused to 
acknowledge as Christian brethem, people who, 
they alleged, not content with laying sacrilegious 
hands on the sacred Scriptures, were also in the 
habit of winding up their unhallowed orgies of 
scones and buttermilk with (horribile dictu !) 
toothsome tit-bits of cooked babies ! So far as 
I am aware, no person belonging to the 
maligned denomination felt himself a penny the 
worse for so preposterous a calumny. Having a 
conscience void of offence in the matter of 
babies, the slanderous accusation was merely 
regarded as an illustration of the deplorable 
depths to which religious bigotry, coupled with 
conceited ignorance, can descend. It only 
remains to be added that the union, formerly 
defeated, has now been happily consummated. 
There is a fair probability that in years to come 
Great Britain may still continue to possess within 
its borders stupid Englishmen who dislike Scot- 
land, and peppery Scotsmen who resent the 
dislike. It hardly seems to me as if the tone of 
" Alba's " contribution will do much to sweeten 
relations between them. This I think a thing 
to be regretted. To all intents and purposes 
English and Scottish now form one people. 
" For better, for worse," the two Kingdoms have 
become one, owning allegiance to the same king, 
obeying the same laws, inspired by the same 
ideals, and recognising (one would fain hope) 
that an injury done to either of them is an injury 
done to both. What though there be some 
stupid Englishmen who, disliking the Scots, 
pretend to believe them cannibals or the 
descendants of cannibals ! Leave them to stew 
in the juice of their own childish imaginings. 
If a Scotsman happens to enter a room where a 
mother is holding her infant child in her arms, 
and the infant, misliking the Scotsman's personal 
appearance, resents his intrusion by lifting up its 
voice in approved baby fashion— surely the 
wisest thing for the Scotsman to do in the 
circumstances is to struggle to maintain an 
attitude of outward unconcern, however deeply 
his feelings may be wounded, rather than 
provoke louder demonstrations of hostility and 
mcur the undying enmity of the mother by 
pricking the baby with a pin. 

W. S. 



Tames Clyde, LL.D. (2nd S., VIII., 28, 
63).— I thank both " W. B. R. W." and " W. S." 
for their notes in re Dr. Clyde. It is somewhat 
unusual to find three persons (father, son, and 
grandson) all bearing the same name and all 
more or less distinguished. Consequently, it 
need not be wondered at that, when rambling in 
SL Mary's Kirkyard, Dumfries, I came upon a 
headstone inscribed to the Rev. James Clyde 
that I thought it might be the grammarian. I 
copied it as follows :— "Rev. James Clyde. Bom 
in Perth, 23rd August, 1776. Minister of the 
United Presbyterian Church, Lorebum Street, 
Dumfries, from 18 10. Died 7th March, 1851. 
Aged 75." I have a copy of "Greek Syntax, with 
a Rationale of Constructions" (1857), and it has a 
prefatory notice by Prof Hlackie, who states that 
" the work was undertaken at his request for the 
use of his classes at the University" (Edinburgh) 
Another book of Dr. Clyde's, "Romaic and 
Modem Greek compared with one another and 
with Ancient Greek," is specially eulogised by 
Lord Broughton in his "Travels in Albania." 
This nobleman was better known as John Cam 
Hobhouse, friend and associate of Lord Byron, 
who dedicated his " Siege of Corinth " to him. 
In Dr. Clyde's preface we learn that he studied 
in Athens, under Prof Asopois, in 1853, having 
as fellow-student Aristides Cyprianos, who 
subsequently became famous. Looking at this 
book with a printer's eye, I observed in the 
punctuation that when a comma was required a 
space was placed before it, and this satisfied me 
that the book was a foreign product, "made in 
Germany" — that is, printed m Leipsic, where 
probably he had studied and made friends. 
Why such a renowned scholar as Dr. Clyde 
appears to have been should not have received 
promotion to a professorship in one of our uni- 
versities is one of those problems very difficult of 
solution. A parallel case of neglect is that of 
Wm. Veitch, LL.D. (ob. 1885, aged 91), who 
was renowned over Europe as a Greek gram- 
marian, yet never obtained a Greek chair. 

Alba. 
Melbourne, Australia. 

A BucHAN Farm Rhyme. — A correspondent 
relates that her mother, Isabella Lawrance (1815- 
1899) used to repeat the undernoted rhyme, 
which was known to her as early as 1820 : — 

At Sapling Brae 

I biak' ma tae ; 
I shod my horse at Biffie ; 

I pooM a wand 
In Rennals' yard, 

An' whuppit on to Bruxie. 

Aberdeen. Robert Murdoch. 



- \ 



SCOTTISH AOTES AND QUERIES 



. I 



THE EIRTHPLACE OF GEORGE 

RIDFATH. 

^tch^ ^^^ w^ *^*^ ^^ cor.-ii%cr>v to 
task a -_ *«-*-c. .c a .saafccss, 3 doc b«3peiess» 
ac. oc^ , ...cs y«rs. a.:^d«i :o by - E.^ Odd,' of 



Aai 






cZ- ;r-^.*^^^ betw«n us was Icti, ^hcn 

s^x^. "^;S^^ ^^ ^° ^ --"^ - 

-V^-^^- «s asserted, on reoataWc aiithor- 

^^^by the ocfacr it was infermi, oq t^ 
'^Sw'tr^ ^^"^ qxiAimed to form a 
'^Sif^^L?^ ^ •^ * natiTe of Berwick- 
Cf^.. '^5?^^ '"'''^ inference-thai was 
n^ rf ^S""*^ was left when the cocf.sed 

J^^Odd pardon me for saving thai that is 
^^^WJ?^ position in which his contribution 

^otUediscnssTonstiil leases it' 

pai^Dhw'Tf. "^11 "^ **> » statement in a 

a^Ye^t tKT^ Timibull and Maidment to 
S^b!wi » ^ ^jJ^sion that Berwickshire was 
P^^yRidpath^s nati.^ place. Personally I 

^^c^t^*^"^"^^^^ ^ txustworthv 
^^^^ to any inference however pUnsibl^. 
™«m «/ ^rrare. An assertion, iTdoubt, 
w^n^h^rr ^"' *? inference may not ooiv be 
^ llJ^L ^^°^"^^^^ '' seeks' to estabUsh 

EffiSh^ W ^T"^' *^ ^^ Advocates' Ubrary, 
oppom^i;; ^? ' ^.''^ ^^ *"^«to had an 

UJD r^^i j!^^ Z'S"^ *>y Alexander Monro, 

who Tn coi^ «»<i Wem.-ss, 

burgh uSSty %*r^" ^""^^P^ ^ E^^ 
with RidnatwT IT ^ ^*^ °®* contemporary 
extend nrfmt^?^^''*'*^^»^y>»»i^ Princijlalsh^ 

San^nishL K?^^^ ^^^ ^^P^^^* ^« Uni^-ersity 
oanishcd the country in i68i-if Wodrow's 



date and his own stafienieBt are to 
The two men were straisgefs u> 
Mc?nro could have knu w n :ioch:n^ 
c-\:et>c what be kamed free 

^icane'i frxn the matrlcula.i:'3c legrstcrs of the 
l* a: vers :y. The two were c laer opponents and 
siiod at opposite poi«s of thoij-^bt aLnd feeling. 
Monro wai a d ^^^r.cd FrelAtist ; Ridpath a 
sturdy Presb>tcnan — "acd vhai paxx hatli he 
that believeth with an inadei ?"* Xciiber would 
credit his adversary with a ca:>acity to tcU the 
truth. Jjd^lng from Ridpath's reply, Monro 
was a person coostitntioDally incaipable of 
making a stasement of &ct w-itikoat wilful or 
unintentional feilsTncatioo. !£. d b gjcJu re, he had 
happened to stnmbie oo the trnth as to Rtdpath's 
place of birth, or even so much a^ a. hint at it, 
R:dpath in all probability would ha^-e trailed 
attention to a pbcnoaieiioa so astounding as 
that Monro, for once in his life, had contrived to 
state a fact without blocdjcring^. In de&uit of 
knowing Monro's words^ will ** £van Odd" give 
me lea^-e to conjecture what possibly it was he 
did say? To a PreLatist like Monro, a Presby- 
terian bekxiged to an inferior order of being in the 
scale of creatioo. He probably made some 
sneering or sarcastic le fc icn ce to the insignifi- 
cance of Ridpatb's origin. Perhaps he twitted him 
with being "^ a scurrilous scribbler — a dowDisiii 
rustic — a banished outlaw — a crreatore of no 
consideration— descended from an obscure haaily 
somewheze oo the Border' — or words to that 
ettect. 

('3} The slighting allusion to bts fstnuly seems 
to have wounded Ridpath deeply. Speaking of 
hims^ in the third person, he says ('* Scots 
Episcopal Innocence,'* 1694, p 52), "... my 
next Attaque shall be npon your [Ur. Monro's] 
Evidence, Sir William Paterson, who is pleased 
to treat Mr Ridpath with the genteel Terms of 
" Villain, Rascal, Varlet, etc,' though at the sane 
time Mr. Ridpath is content to refer it to iDV 
Herald in Scotland, Whether the Family wbcncc 
he is descended or Sir William's be the best 
It can be very well instnicted that dtefuoSyof 
Ridpath is of the same Original with the 
Gordons, both by the Heralds' Boob^ ^ 
armorial BearingSy and constant Tradition. A^ 
I think there's none will deny that the Family « 
Gordon is one of the eldest suad grates 
Families in Scotland. The history of Doug«^ 
does also own that their PrinceSy Family di**!^ 
think it below them to espouse theQazn^a 
that of Ridpath ; the best FamUics of tbe Me^ 
as those of Swinton, Cockhum, efc, wi d« 
disown their having been allied to^^;:''7 
there's %-et a Monument in Cranshaw's Chun» 
at the Head of that which was fonoerly loc 



■-L- ■ • • ■. 



— ^p .^-^ w, ■~^— . 



VOL.VIIL 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



m 



liaron of Ridpatb's Seat, demonstrating that 
one of our Kings did not think it below htm to 
be the Guest of that Family, and to honour them 
with his Company to Church. This I have 
much ado to prevail with Mr. Ridpath to let pass, 
as being of the Opinion that all such things are 
but Vanity ; and that sola Virtus nobilitat ; nor 
would he have indeed suffered it, but that his 
malicious Enemies think it their interest to 
revile and vilify him, because, forsooth, he was 
a Servant ; though at the same time he was 
never Servant to any Man, but in a Station 
becoming a Scholar, and thinks it no disgrace 
to be so still : And as for being Servant to the 
two Sons of one Mr. Grey, it's false ; he had no 
concern but with one of the two Greys, and 
that was as an Assistant in his Studies ; and 
that Gentleman did then, and does still treat him 
as his Companion, nor is he asham'd to own 
that he serves Mr. Grey now." 

A long account follows, occupying several 
pages, and detailing the circumstances of his 
expulsion from Edinburgh, which, thou|^h deeply 
interesting, is irrelevant to the present discussion. 
Two things stand out clearly from the words 
above quoted, (i) The quotation proves Rid- 
path to have been no son of lord or laird, but a 
man in humble circumstances, depending for 
maintenance on his own exertions. (2) It 
proves that he regarded Berwickshire as the 
ancestral home of his family. But, as far as 
throwing any light on his own place of birth is 
concerned, he might have been bom at John 
o' Groats or in the wilds of Connemara, for all 
the help the quotation affords. 

I fear I can produce little fresh evidence in 
favour of Stirlingshire as Ridpatb's birthplace. 
Confirmation of his birth in that county may 
need to be sought in the British Museum or the 
Bodleian Library, Oxford. The original home 
of the Ridpaths was doubtless in Berwickshire, 
where they were found in large numbers in 
Ridpath's day. They were less numerous in 
Edinburgh, Leith, and Haddingtonshire ; a few 
lived in Fifeshire; one, a skipper, was an indweller 
in Bo'ness ; and one enterprising lady of the 
name penetrated as far as Lanarkshire. No 
Ridpath, so far as I have observed, was located 
in Stirlingshire at the period under discussion. 
Notwithstanding this, local historians claim him 
for the county, where, they allege, without hesita- 
tion, he was born in 1663. Suffer me to bolster 
up this allegation with my inference, or series of 
inferences, which I hope "Evan Odd" may 
consider not less obvious than the one to which 
he has called attention. In the "Edinburgh 
Register of Marriages " a marriage is recorded 
between George Ridpath, tailor, and Jean Weir, 



on i6th December, 1652. These may con- 
ceivably have been the parents of George 
Ridpath. If so, Jean Weir may have been a 
native of Stirlingshire, where the name was 
then, and is still, not uncommon, and, if so, the 
accident of Ridpath's birth in Stirlingshire, as 
vouched for by excellent authority, may readily 
be accepted. 

My thanks are due to "Evan Odd" for 
huntmg down and tracing back to a contempor- 
ary source the Berwickshire legend about 
Ridpath. He has laid the story bare to the 
root — has stripped it of much of the 
mystery with which it had become invested 
— has unconsciously revealed the unlikelihood 
of any good thing at that particular period 
coming out of Berwickshire — and has de- 
monstrated, even to the satisfaction, I trust, 
of my friend, Mr. Wilson, the sheer destitution 
— the condition of absolutely primitive naked- 
ness—in which his Berwickshire plea for 
Ridpath now stands. 

W. S. 



Glencoe Massacre Relic— The Daily 
Mail of 26th January this year contains the 
appendid notice of a famous relic. Written 
upon a single sheet of paper, the original order 
for the massacre of Glencoe is shortly to be 
sold at Messrs. Puttick & Simpson's rooms. 
The fatal document reads : — 

" You Are hereby ordered to fall upon the 
rebels, the McDonalds of Glencoe, and put all 
to the sword under Seventy. You are to have 
a special care that the old Ffox and his sones 
do upon no account escape your hands. You 
are to secure all the avenues that no man 
escape. 

"This you are to put into executione at fyve 
of tlie clock precisely, and by that time or very 
shortly after it Pll strive to be att you with a 
stronger party. If I doe not come to you at fyve 
you are not to tary for me, but to fall upon. 

"This is by the King's special command for 
the good and Safety of the country, that these 
miscreants be cutt off root and branch. See 
that this be putt into executione without fend 
or favour, else you may expect to be dealt with 
as one not true to King nor Government, nor a 
man fitt to carry commissione in the King's 
service. Expecting you will not fail in the 
fulfilling hereof, as you love yourselfe. I 
subscribe these with my hand att Balicholis, 
Ffeb. 22, 1692, R. O. Duncanson, ffor ther 
Majesties' service. — To Capt. Robert Campbell, 
of Glenlyon." Robert Murdoch. 

Aberdeen. 



134 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[March, 1907 



LAWRANCE AND LAWRENCE FAMILIES 
IN ABERDEENSHIRE, 1696. 

(Continued from 2nd S., VIII,, 118.) 



VOLUME II. 

PARISH OF AUCHREDIE. 
Auchmaludies, Bedlainis, and Drums. 

11. William Laurance, cottar, and his spouse, i2s. 

PITFORSKIE. 

12. Marjorie Laurance, servant, fee per annum £S, 

fortieth pairt and generall poll . . los. 

PARISH OF LONMAY. 

36. William Laurence, tennent in Cairnglasse, pos- 

sesses of his master's valued rent £6^ 13s. 4d., 
which, with his owne generall poll, and his 
wife, Agnes Murison, is . , £1 5s. 4d. 
Robert Milne, shoemaker, and his wife, Jean 
Leurence i8s. 

37. Christian Laurence, and her sone, Alexander 

Buchan, a weaver . . . i8s. 

Alexander Laurence (servant to David Smith, 

tennent in Cairnglasse), her yeirlie fee, ;f 12, 

is I2S. 

William Laurence, weaver, and his wife i8s. 

38. Isobell Laurence, and her son, Alexander Far- 

quhar I2S. 

WESTER CORTHIERAM (VALUATION— 
100 MERKS). 

41. George Laurence, cottar, and Agnes Robertson, 
his wife 12s. 

PARISH OF CRIMOND. 

48. William Lawrence (in Logic), tennent .2s. 6d. 

CALSIEHILL. 

49. William Lawrence, ther, and his wife . 12s. 

And for valuatione ... 2S. 6d. 

PARISH OF TYRIE. NEW CAIK. 

59. Isobell Lawrence, servant, fee per annum 8 
merks, fortieth pairt and generall poll 8s. 8d. 

PARISH OF ABERDOUR. 

63. The Lord Pitsligo, the greatest heretors, valua- 
tione is ... . ;f 950 OS. od. 
The hundredth part, peyable be the tennents, 

£g los. od. 
As followeth : — 
John Lawrence, George Ogstoun, and Alex- 
ander Black .... 2s. 6d. 



MAYNES OF ABERDOUR. 

64. James Lawrence, servant, fee per annum £15 

6s. , fortieth pairt and generall poll is 13s. 8d. 

AUCHMALUDIE. 

65. Agnes Lawrence, servant, the same fee [viz., 

^8 per annum], and poll . los. 

PORTIONERS OF QUARRELL BURN. 

69. John Laurence, and his wife and daughter, iSs. 
And for valuatione 2s. 6d. 

MAINES. 

72. James Lawrence, subtennent, and his wile, 12s. 

TOWIE. 

73. John Lawrence, herd, his fee per annum £si 

fortieth pairt and generall poll is . 86. lod. 

PARISH OF PITSLIGO. 

85. John Lawrence, his fee per annum is £y, fortieth 
pairt with generall poll . . 9s. 8d. 

87. Alexander Lawrence, servant, fee £g, fortieth 
pairt and generall poll . . los. 6d. 

PARISH OF FRASERBURGH. 

92. William Lawrence, servant, at ;^io fee per 

annum iis. 

94. John Lawrence, servant, at 3 merks of fee, 7s. 

Andrew Lawrance, subtennent, and Margrat 

Robertson, his wife . . . lasw 

Robert Lawrance, £S of fee . . . los. 

96. Elizabeth Lawrence, indweller (subtennent in 

Techmuirie) 6s. 

loi. John Lawrance, and his wife (tennents in the 
Maynds of Philorth) .... 128. 

PARISH OF CRUDEN. OVER ACHIRIE. 

116. John Lawronsone, tennent ther . 17s. 8d. 

Elspet Forrest, his spouse ... 6s. 

George, Gilbert, and Jean Lawronsones, ther 

children 18s. 



6s. 

6s. 



NETHER ACHIRIE. 

117. William Hay, grassman 

Margaret Lawrensone, his spouse . 

PARISH OF SLAINS. KNAPLEASK. 

146. George Lawrensone, in Majmes of Leask, 

valued rent is 19s. 

MAYNS OF LEASK. 

147. George Lawrensone, tennent ther, his propor- 

tione of the valued rent is 19s., and the gene- 
rall poll for himself and wife is £1 lis. od. 
David Lawrensone, subtennent ther, and his 
wife, poll is I2S. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



135 



PARISH OF FOVERANE. MAINS OF 
TILLIERAY. 

159. Robert Laurensone, tennent ther, his propor- 

tione with the generall poll is .12s. 

Item, his wife, her poll is . . . 6s. 

KINKNOKIE. 

165. George Laurensone, his fee £4 per annum, 
poll is 8s. 

PARISH OF UDNIE. TORRIE. 

172. Francis Laurensone, tradesman, and his wife, 
poll i8s. 

NEW SEAT OF DRUMBRECK. 

173* John Laurie, for fee and poll, is . . iis. 

William Laurie (no fee), and poll for himself 

and wife i28.' 

PARISH OF TARVES. NORTHSEAT. 

188. Gilbert Lawrance, cottar, and his wyfe, of 
generall poll i2s. 

MEIKLE YTHSIE. 

197. George Laurie, servant, of fee and generall 
poll 14s. 8d 

PARISH OF METHLICK. WEATSEAT. 
225. Alexander Laurie and his wife, their poll is i2S. 

PARISH OF LOGIE BUCHAN. MEIKLE 

TIPPERTY. 

231. Elspet Laurenson, for fee and generall poll, los. 

PARISH OF KINGEDWARD. MILNESEATT. 

327. Item, Walter Lowrie (subtennent), grassman 
ther, and Margaret Smart, his spouse 12s. 

PARISH OF TURREFF. 
341. Lourance Law, ther . . .is. 

MILL OF ASHOGLE. 

345. John Laurence, servant, for lee and generall 
poll ...... los. 8d. 

353. Jean Lourance, servant, for fee and generall 
poll 9s. 

355. James Laurie, servant, for fee and generall 
poll, is ...... 13s. 

360. Elspet Lawrance, for fee and generall poll, 7s. 

PARISH OF AUCHTERLASS. MILLN OF 

TOWIE. 

386. John .Lourie, servant, for fee and generall poll, 

\^ • • » • • • m X AS« 



PARISHES OF RUTHEN AND BOTARIE. 
HILLYSYDE. 

441. Walter Lowrie, and Walter, Jane, and Issobell 
Lowries, his childring, in familiar i& £1 4s. 

PARISH OF BAHELWIE. 
532. William Lowray, in Haterseat (tennent) 5s. 

PARISH OF OLD MACHAR. BALGOUNIE. 

554. John Laurenstone, wyver, and his wyfe, their 
poll is ...... 18s. 

562. John Laurenstone, with his wife (no children, 

etc.), and his oun generall poll . .12s. 

563. Margarat Laurenston, 14 merks per annum, 

xos. 8d. 
TOWN OF OLD ABERDEEN. 

584. John Lawrensone, merchant ther (no stock), 
and his wife i2s. 

590. Elspet Laurenstone, servant, for fee and gene- 
rall poll ;£'! 4s. od. 

TOWN AND FREEDOM OF ABERDEEN. 

614. Isobell Collie, relict of James Bartlett, stock 
under 10,000 merks, no child ; servants, James 
Deans and Jean Lowrans, no fee; Marjorie 
Smith, 16 merks yearly ' £s 9^ 4<1* 

616. Thomas Biu'net, litster, stock under 5,000 merks, 
for himselfe and wife, James and Anna, his 
children; servants, Alexander Robertsone, 
£2^ yearly. Christian Watson and Elspet 
Lowrans, £% yeirly, each . £^ 12s. od. 

631. Charles Lowrie, merchant, stock above 10,000 
merks, for himselfe and wife, no child; ser- 
vants, William Lowrie and William Eraser, 
no fees ; Margaret Eraser, Janet Jaffray, and 
Janet Anderson, no fees ; [ J Marnoch, 
16 merks yeirly . . ^ 12 13s. 44. 

From the foregoing references, it may be 
safely asserted that the home of one of the 
branches of the Lawrances lies in the eastern 
portion of Aberdeenshire, and I shall be glad if 
any reader can account in any way for the 
migration to the districts named in the list It 
is quite possible that the name was acquired 
from Lawrance Fraser of Philorth, Fraserburgh, 
who flourished 1498. One gentleman tells me 
that his grandfather said his progenitors believed 
themselves to be a remnant of those who par- 
ticipated in tlie Spanish Armada, but the evi- 
dence surrounding this mythical tale is without 
foundation. In any case, the name is one of 
frequent occurrence in Orkney and Shetland, in 
a variety of forms. 

In a historical sketch of the Clan MacLaurin 
by James Logan, 1899 edition, p. 305, the fol- 
lowing interesting information is given : — The 
MacLaurins afford an instance of a clan of very 
ancient descent, having become of inconsider^ 



136 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[March, 1907 



able importance compared with other more 
fortunate tribes. There is a traditional origin 
given of the MacLaurins with reference to a 
mermaid, which is among the most puerile of 
many similar legends, but it was sufficient to 
induce the heralds to assign armorial bearings 
allusive to the fancied occurrence when the 
eminent Lord Dreghorn, who claimed the chief- 
ship, applied, in 1781, for matriculation of these 
family honours in the Lyon College of Arms. 

Loarn or Lawrin, one of the sons of Ere, who 
settled in Arg[yle, 503, acquired that district, 
which from him is said to have obtained its 
name. This appellation, however spelt, is in- 
variably pronounced Lawrin by the Gael ; and 
there can be no reasonable doubt that it is a 
modification of Lawrence, the name of the saint 
who suffered martyrdom under Valerian, 261. 
Its Gaelic orthography is Labhrainn, the bh 
being quiescent 

Aberdeen. Robert Murdoch. 



Scott and Urquhart Families.— An 
"Aberdeen Almanac" of 1823, presented by 
Mr. George Walker, Aberdeen, to the Aberdeen 
Public Library, has the following information in 
handwriting on the fly-leaves at the end: — 
"Anne Urquhart, married to Mr. Scott in 
AugL 1820. Sept. 1 82 1 had a still-born dr. In 
June 1822, had a son who only lived a few hours. 
Mr. Scott, died 2* Deer 1822. Williamina 
Scott, bom 13 May, 1823. 10 Dec 1822. Rep"^ 
opened. Present.— G. Burnett, Rev*- W"- 
Malcolm, Leochel, Beng*»- Lumsden Hatton 
bum, Alex Harper, merch*- Abd»- John Lumsden 
Sherriffs and Rev. Mr. Urquhart — 5 first 
Tmstees by unexecuted sett*^" Rev. William 
Malcolm mentioned above was granduncle of 
J. Malcolm Bulloch, and that gentleman may 
note that another edition of his relative's 
catechism (2d.) which was revised, enlarged, 
and edited by the Rev. James Grant, D.D., 
minister of Fordyce, was published by D. 
Wyllie & Son, 247 Union Street, Aberdeen, 
last year. There were 1,000 copies printed, and 
although there is no imprint, the printers were 
Messrs. G. & W. Fraser, Aberdeen. 

Aberdeen. Robert Murdoch. 



Madeline Smith (2nd S., VIII., 115).— 
"Surely it is about time that that unhappy 
woman, who, we believe, is still alive, and a 
resident in London, should have the benefit of 
the Statute of Limitations."— 5^^r/tf/^r, January 
26, 1907. X. 



Butler's "Lobster" Simile.— -There is a 
favourite quotation in '^Hudibras" (Canto II., 
part 2) : 

The sun bad long since in the lap 
Of Thetis taken out his nap, 
And like a lobster boiled, the morn 
From black to red began to turn. 

Like many other youngsters with literary 
proclivities, I doated on this droll phrase and 
dragged it into my correspondence, so much so 
that the late Mr. Alexander Simpson, well known 
in Aberdeen as a superior critic on art and the 
drama, gently reproved me. I had not read 
Rabelais then, but some years afterwards I 
'bought an old volume (Motteux's translation) of 
" Pantagruel's Voyage to the Oracle of the 
Bottle," and there m Book V., chapter 8, 1 found 
this realistic picture : — "When day, peeping in the 
east, made the sky turn from black to red, like a 
boiling lobster y he waked us again," etc. It will 
be perceived at once that Butler " conveyed " 
the conceit from Rabelais, who flourished in 
France fully a century earlier (1483- 1553), and, 
like other thieves, spoiled the booty in its forcible 
removal. A critic out here instanced that 
veritable couplet about the lobster as a proof of 
originality, to copy which would be plagiarism ; 
but he was somewhat shocked to learn that 
Butler was the plagiarist himself, and conse- 
quently he had to modify his oracular dictum. 
Before I had dipped mto Pantagruel and 
Gargantua, that couplet haunted my mind when 
other and better Hudibrastic lines eluded recall, 
and I quoted them with relish as a sample of 
the wit of Samuel Butler ; but one day a 
matter-of-fact fishmonger disparagingly termed 
them nonsense, to my surprise. He maintained 
that the colour of a boiled lobster was fixed 
and could not turn, whereas the case was 
different with a lobster that had to be boiled. 
He examined it from a professional point of 
view, and his objection was valid and scrupu- 
lously correct . But Rabelais made no such 
blunder, and unquestionably this whimsical 
description of sunrise belongs by priority of 
claim to the witty Frenchman. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alb.\. 



Geological Note. — In an excavation mak- 
ing just now (February 15) for an addition to 
the Middle School in the Gallowgate, a layer of 
black earth is seen below ten or twelve feet of 
gravel which had been brought to fill up a 
natural hollow in the Gallowgate, between 
Littlejohn Street and Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



W 



NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF 

FORFARSHIRE. 

(Continned from 2nd S., VIII., 120,) 



17. Allan, Thomas R. : Violinist. Bom 
1807 in Forfar, he was brother of No. 13, and a 
violinisjt of great ability. He settled in Fife, 
where he successfully organised musical classes, 
his services being in great demand at all musical 
gatherings. His end was tragic, as he was found 
lying dead at a dykeside in 185 1. 

18. Allan, William : Minor Poet. Born 
•784 or 1780, he died early in the year 1804, 
but before his death had written a good deal of 
verse. He was a friend of Alexander Balfour. 
For notice see " Bards of Angus and M earns." 

19. Allan, Sir William, M.P. : Minor 
Poet and Politician. Born Dundee, 22nd ' 
November, 1837, bred an engineer, he wrought at 
his trade in Glasgow and elsewhere, and served 
on board one of the blockade runners during the 
American Civil War. He entered the service of 
an engineering firm at Sunderland in 1868, and 
became manager of the works in 1870. A pro- 
lific author, he has published six volumes of 
verse. Conspicuous among them are the 
following:— "A Book of Poems," "Heather Bells," 
and " Lays of Leisure." Moreover, as befits a 
marine engine builder and proprietor of the 
Scotia Engine Works at Sunderland, he has also 
monographed on " Rough Casting '* and " The 
Engine Room." He first entered Parliament as 
a Radical in 1893 for the burgh of Gateshead, 

a seat he held till his death in . He was an 

advanced Radical, generally in sympathy with 
Sir Charles Dilke's political views, but more 
particularly with those of Mr. William Allan, a 
fact which did not, however, render him any the 
less popular, both in the House and among his 
constituents. He was one of the most pictur- 
esque of parliamentarians in the closing years of 
Mr. Gladstone's career, and came to the front in 
that Parliament by his vigorous denunciations 
of the tubular boilers then being introduced into 
the Navy. He was knighted before his death in 
recognition of his public services. 

20. Allardyce John : Violinist. Born 
Guthrie, 5th November, 1838, he is an excellent 
player on the violin, long resident in Arbroath, 
and has a wide reputation in the North-East of 
Scotland. 

21. Anderson, Alexander (Rev.) : Free 
Church Divine and Author. Born 1823 in 



Barry, he was ordained to Helensburgh Free 

Church in 1858, and died in . He published 

a " Life of Dr. Nathanael Paterson.'^ 

22. Anderson, James (Rev.) : Free Church 
Divine and Author. A native of Kirriemuir, 
born 1807, he was educated at Marischal College, 
Aberdeen, and the Theological Hall of the 
Original Secession Church. For some years a 
minister of that Church in his native town, he 
resigned his charge owing to an affection of the 
chest Settling in Edinburgh, he devoted him- 
self to biographical literature. He assisted Dr. 
M'Crie, Hugh Miller, Dr. Fleming, and Prof. 
Balfour in producing a volume called "The 
Bass Rock," 1847. In 1850 he brought out his 
most celebrated work, "The Ladies of the 
Covenant." In 1852 he joined the Free Church 
of Scotland with many other Original Secession 
ministers. His other works were, "The Ladies 
of the Reformation" (two series), 1854, etc., 
and "Memorable Women in Puritan Times," 
2nd vol., 1862. He died in 1875. 

23. Anderson, James : Author. A native 
of Arbroath, flourished in the second half of the 
nineteenth century, and is the author of a book 
of travels. I have no other notes about him. 

24. Anderson, John : Town Clerk, etc. 
Bom Dundee, 1795, son of William, a brewer, 
and elder in the Auld Kirk, he was educated at 
St. Andrews, but studied law at Edinburgh 
University. He commenced business in Dundee, 
where he figured as a keen Liberal and municipal 
reformer. A Police Commissioner in 1823, he 
was returned as one of the Merchant Councillors 
in 1 83 1, and was chosen First Bailie in 1833. 
In 1838 he opposed the Jail Bill, which, largely 
owing to his exertions, was defeated. One of 
the leading spirits in fighting the Auld Kirk 
pretensions, and getting the legal stipend of 
ministers reduced to ;f 105, he was appointed 
Conjunct Town Clerk in 1854, and died 1864. 

• 

25. Anderson, Joseph, LL.D. : Distin- 
guished Antiquary. A native of Arbroath, bom 
in 1832, he became a teacher in his native town 
1852, and was sent to Constantinople in that 
capacity in 1856, where he remained till 1859. 
He acted as editor of John d Groats Journal 
1860-69, and has been Keeper of the National 
Museum of Antiquities since 1870. He has 
issued the following works : — " Orkneyinga 
Saga," 1873; **The Oliphants in Scotland,* 
1879; Drummond's '^Ancient Scottish Weapons," 
1881. He has also been twice Rhind Lecturer, 
publishing ** Scotland in Early Christian and 



i3i 



scorns// notes and queries 



[March, 1907 



Pagan Times," 4 vols., 188 1-6, and "Early 
Christian Monuments of Scotland," 1892. He 
is Hon. Professor of Antiquities to the Royal 
Scottish Academy, and has contributed numer- 
ous papers to the proceedings of the society. 

26. AlKENHKAD, James : a native of Mont- 
rose, trained in the office of Robert Clark^ writer 
there, afterwards engaged in London ; emigrated 
from thence to Launceston, Tasmania. In 1841 
he, along with others, established "The Corn- 
wall Fire and Marine Insurance Company," of 
which he remained secretary until 1884 ; and in 
1842 he assisted in establishing The Launceston 
Examiner^ of which he acted as editor until 
1869. He was one of the founders of the 
Launceston Savings Bank, of which he remained 
a manager until his death ; also of the Launces- 
ton Chamber of Commerce, the Mechanics* 
Institute, and the Launceston Public Library. 
From 1870 till 1885 he represented Tamar in 
the Legislative Council, and from 1876 till his 
retirement he was Chairman of Committees. 
He died on 9th July, 1887. 

27. Anderson, Alexander, m.d. : Son of 
James Anderson, farmer, Law of Craigo, near 
Montrose, bom 1806, graduated as M.D. at 
Edinburgh University, but never practised. He 
took much interest in Montrose Museum, and, 
being a specialist in coins and medals, he spent 
much time in arranging these, along with other 
curios connected with historic dynasties from 
before the Christian era to the present date. He 
died at Montrose on 22nd August, 1893. 

28. Anderson, William : Minor Poet 
Bom about 1750, in Kingoldmm Schoolhouse, 
he settled as teacher of a private school in 
Kirriemuir. He wrote verse, and published 
" The Piper of Peebles— A Tale," in 1 793. The 
first edition, "By the Lamb-Leader," was 
anonymous. A later edition bore Anderson's 
name. He published another volume, "The 
Besom Men," 1798. The date of Anderson's 
death is unknown. 

29. Anderson, William, The Honour- 
able, J. P. : Colonial Politician. Born Montrose, 

January 3, 1828, son of James, and Hannah, 
is wife ; taken to Tasmania in 1842, but removed 
to Victoria in 1844. In 1849 he took over his 
father's business as a builder, and managed it till 
1854, when he joined his father in the purchase 
of Rosemount Farm, his present home. He 
became an elder in the Presbyterian Church in 
1854, and was for two years President of the 
Aborigines Society. Appointed J. P. in 1864, 



he sat in the Legislative Assembly for Villiers 
and Heytesbury from 1880 to 1892, when he was 
defeated at the poll. Jn 1887 he was awarded 
the prize for the best managed farm in Southern 
Victoria. He was Minister of Public Works in 
the Gillies Administration, but resigned with the 
rest of his colleagues in 1890. 

30. Angus, Alexander : Minor Poet 
" Secunder." Born in 1842 at Auchterhouse, he 
enlisted in his youth, and served as a soldier in 
India, where he rose to be a sergeant. On his 
discharge he entered the railway service, and 
became stationmaster at Carnoustie. At his 
death in 1896 he was goods agent at Broughty 
Ferry. A pleasant verse writer, he figures in 
" Bards of Angus and the Meams." 

31. Angus, James : Minor Poet. He was 
of Kirriemuir, and in 1857 he published a booklet 
of religious verse. I know nothing more of him. 

32. Angus, William Cargill : Minor Poet. 
Bom in Arbroath in 1870, he enlisted, when 
only fifteen years of age, in the Black Watch, 
and saw service in the Belfast riots, 1886. 
Drafted to Malta, he removed with his regiment 
to Gibraltar in 1889, and was there in 1892, but 
anxious to return home ; he wrote " Notes from 
Gibraltar " for the Arbroath Guide. His poems 
and songs have appeared in the Guide^ the 
Weekly News^ and other papers. " O Lass, Are 
You Weary?" "My Bonnie Jean," "The Sun 
Will Shine Again " are tne pieces that appear 
under his name in the 15th Vol. of "Edwards's 
Modern Scottish Poets." 

33. Annan, Robert : Missionary Evange- 
list. Bom in Dundee, 5th October, 1834, he led 
in youth a profligate life, in the course of which 
he emigrated to the United States, and then 
went to Canada, where he enlisted in a Highland 
regiment, but deserted and entered the Navy, 
from which he also deserted, but finaUv gave 
himself up, after which he was bought off by his 
relatives, and returned to Dundee. Here he was 
converted during the i860 revival, after which he 
acted for some time as missionary under the 
East Coast Mission, but latterly became fore- 
man to a firm of wood merchants. It was his 
habit to preach in the streets on Sabbath 
evenings and often during the week. A tine 
swimmer, he saved eleven persons from drown- 
ing, but perished in saving the twelfth, a boy of 
five, who had fallen into the water at the harbour. 
The boy was saved, but Annan sank and was 
drowned. His life, under the title of "The 
Christian Hero," was written by the Rev. John 



VoL.Vin. 2ndSERiES.3 SCOTTISH NOf^S AMD QUMUlES 



^9 



Mcpherson, Dundee. A few months after 
Annan's death 6,000 copies of this book were dis- 
posed of, and a second edition of 6,000 copies 
was issued. His death took place in December, 
1867. A monument to his memory, in Dundee 
Cemetry, was raised in 1 869. 

34. Arbuthnot, Alexander : One of 
Scotland's early printers. My only information 
about him is that he died in 1585, and that he 
is claimed as a native of Forfarshire. There is 
an Alexander Arbuthnot mentioned as a poet 
by Alan Reid, who belonged to the Mearns, 
'535-83. Perhaps he was the same person. 

35. Archer, David Wallace: Minor 
Poet. Born Kirriemuir, he was bred as a grocer, 
then became a law-derk, and latterly was agent 
for an insurance company. In 1889 he pub- 
lished " Leaves from Logiedale." 

36. Archer, William : Minor Poet. Bom 
Carnoustie, 1843, and bred to the sea, he is now, 
or was recently, examining officer of H.M. 
Customs. He has written songs and poems 
under the nom de plume of " Sagittarius.** See 
"Edwards's Modern Scottish Poets," Vol. IV. 

37. Arnott, Neil, M.D. : Philosopher, 
Inventor, etc. The son of a Catholic farmer, 
born at Arbroath in 1788, he was educated at 
Aberdeen Grammar School and Marischal Col- 
lege. After studying medicine, he went to 
London in 1806, and studied seven months at 
St. George's Hospital. He made two voyages to 
China as surgeon in the service of the £.1. Co.; 
then from 1811 till 1855 he carried on a large 
practice in London. He was physician to the 
French and Spanish Embassies, and an original 
member of the Senate of the London University 
(1836). He was also F.R.S. and F.G.S., and 
was Physician-Extraordinary to the Queen 
(1837). He died in 1874. A course of lectures 
(1823-4} on Natural Philosophy in its applica- 
tion to medicine formed the basis of his 
"Elements of Physics or Natural Philosophy, 
General and Medical*' (1827 — 7th ed., 1876). 
In 1832 he invented the water-bed, and his 
treatise on "Warming and Ventilating" (1834) 
describes the "Arnott Stove" and "Arnott 
Ventilator." His " Survey of Human Progress " 
( 1 861) is full of enlightened views on improve- 
ment generally. He was a munificent bene- 
factor to the higher education, he and his widow 
giving no less than ;£i 2,000 to the London 
University, the four Scottish universities, and two 
ladies' colleges in London. 



38. Arrott, David, M.D. : Minor Poet. A 
native of Arbroath, where he was bom in 1 803, 
he studied medicine in Edinburgh and Berlin, 
but settled as doctor in his native place, where 
the rest of his life was spent Besides possessing 
considerable scientific knowledge, and being very 
skilful in his profession, he was distinguished for 
his literary attainments. He wrote a good deal 
of verse, and one of his poems appears in 
"Round About the Round O." He died in 

1877. 

39. AUCHTERLONIE, DOUGLAS K. (REV.) : 

A native of Carnoustie, where he was bom in 
1843, he studied for the ministry of the United 
Presbyterian Church, and was ordained minister 
of the congregation at Craigdam in 1872. Mr. 
Auchterlonie is a man of an original mind, and 
has published sermons and essays marked by 
keen thought and powerful imagination. He is 
much esteemed for his earnestness and devotion 
to duty. 

40. Balfour, Alexander : Minor Poet. A 
native of Monikie, where he was bom, ist March, 
1767, he is claimed by Mr. M'Bain, in his 
" Arbroath Poets," as one of the bards of that 
town, because he spent a good part of his life 
there and wrote many of his verses while there 
resident His education was limited, and he 
was early apprenticed to a weaver. Still, so 
eager was he in the matter of self-education that 
he was able, after a time, to become master of 
a side-school in his native parish. He began 
verse-writing when only twelve years of age, but 
it was during his life as a teacher that he first 
wrote for the press. At the age of twenty-six he 
came to Arbroath as clerk to a manufacturer, 
and the following year he married. Shortly 
after, he became a partner in the firm which he 
served, but the business proved unsuccessful, 
and in 181 5 the firm became bankrupt. Mr. 
Balfour struggled on for a time in Arbroath, 
but in 1 8 18 he removed to Edinburgh, where he 
served as clerk in the house of Blackwood, and 
where the last years of his life were spent. He 
died in 1829. A prolific author, his pen was 
seldom . idle : he published many occasional 
verses, as well as several works in prose and 
verse. Some of his songs were set to music, and 
are still popular. 

41. Balfour, Charles: Minor Poet. 
Born near Carnoustie in 1819, he was early sent 
to work, and on the stage of life and labour has 
played many parts. Beginning as a cowherd, 
he has been successively apprentice brewer, 
factory worker, soldier, railway parcel deliverer, 



140 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[March, 1907 



goods guard, passenger |^uard, and station- 
master. He was seriously injured in a railway 
accident in 1852, but recovered, and \i^as ap- 
pointed station master at Glencarse, where he 
remained till his retiral early in the nineties. 
He is probably now dead See Ford's " Harp 
of Perthshire." 

42. Balfour, Edward Green, M.D. : 
Naturalist and \uthor. A native of Montrose, 
where he was bom in 1813, this enterprising 
Scotsman, after studying for the medical pro- 
fession, became connected with the medical 
staff in the service of the East India Company, 
where he rose to be Surgeon-General A keen 
naturalist, he published in 1857 "Cyclopaedia of 
India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, 
Commercial, Industrial, and Scientific: Products 
of th^ Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal King- 
dom, Uueful Arts and Manufactures." A life of 
Dr. Balfour appears in the "National Dictionary 
of Biography." He died in 1889. 

43. Balfour, Sir George, M.P. : Liberal 
Politician. A native of Montrose and bom in 
1809, he married a daughter of Joseph Hume, 
the Radical politician of the reformed House of 
Commons. He was educated at Addiscombe 
Military Academy, and in 1825 entered the 
Madras Artillery. From 1843 to 1846 he was 
Consul at Shanghai, member of the Madras 
Military Board 1849-57, member of the Military 
Finance Commission of India in 1859-60. 
From i860 to 1862 Sir George was chief of the 
Military Finance Department of that com- 
mission. He has also been assistant to the 
ControUer-in- Chief, War Department In 1872 
he was chosen M.P. for Kincardineshire, a seat 
he held till 1892, when he retired. Sir George 
became Major-General 1865 and Lieutenant- 
General 1874. He died 1894. 

Dollar. W. B. R. Wilson 

(To he continued,) 



daughter of George Mason, who was an intimate 

friend and associate of General Hugh Mercer. 

Aberdeen. Robert Murdoch. 



General Hugh Mercer.—" The Life of 
General Hugh Mercer," 8vo, 140 pp., illustrated, 
with brief sketches of General George 
Washington, John Paul Jones, General George 
Weedon, James Monroe, and Mary Ball 
Washington, who were friends and associates of 
General Mercer at Fredericksburg; also a 
sketch of Lodge No. 4, A.F. and A.M., of 
which Generals Washington and Mercer were 
members ; and a genealogical state of the 
Mercer family, by Judge John T. Goolrick of 
Fredericksburg, Va., was published last year 
by the Neale Publishing Company, of New 
York and Washington. The author affectionately 
dedicated the beok to his wife, a great-grand- 



dluerles. 

820. *• ScoTo-BRiTi»«iNicus.'* — Who was " Scoto- 
Britannicus," who published in 1822 a " Scottish 
Biographical Dictionary," which was the precursor 
of the collections of R. Chambers, W. Anderson, 
and Joseph Irving ? As for the book itself^ I cannot 
say much in its favour. The memoirs are necessarily 
brief, but there are several names admitted which 
will not be found elsewhere. The book is a duo- 
decimo of 300 pages, two columns of only 8 ems 
pica — a ridiculously narrow measure — with double 
brass rules at top of page and down the centre. 
Writing as a printer, I cannot imagine that there 
was anything gained by the adoption of those little 
columns : it must have been a positive loss to all 
concerned, especially the unfortunate compositor. 
The printers were Balfour & Clarke, Edinburgh, 
and, in making up the book, they mistakenly only 
allowed 3 ems pica for "backs," the result being 
that, when bound, the stitching comes perilously 
near to the print. Interspersed through the book 
are several well-known poems. Sempill's ** Rhjrme 
on the Earl of Moray" (1568), six pages; Drum- 
mond's macaronic poem, ** Polemo-Middinia "; Col- 
lin's '* Dirge on the Death of Thomson '*; Michael 
Bruce's ** Elegy on Spring"; Campbell's " Lochiel's 
Warning," and ** Dirge of Wallace"; Alex. Wilson's 
**Blue Bird"; songs by Tannahill, and Wolfe's 
" Monody on the Death of Sir John Moore." The 
book is printed for Peter Brown, of 37 Nicolson 
Street, Edinburgh. I am almost persuaded that 
*'P. B." was the compiler. He subsequently emi- 
grated to America, and settled in Canada as a 
journalist, but he was eclipsed in fame both as author 
and publicist by his son, the Hon. George Brown, a 
grand Scot of physical and intellectual endowment, 
who edited the Toronto Globe for many years, and 
died on gth May, 1880, from the effects of a wound 
inflicted upon him by a discharged workman named 
Bennett. Perhaps '*W. S." will be able to inform 
me whether my conjecture that Peter Brown was 
the compiler of the book in question is correct or not 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

821. *'RosE Douglas."— In Hugh Macdonald's 
delightful book, *' Rambles round Glasgow" (1854), 
he has this significant item in the Cambuslang sec- 
tion : — " The clever authoress of ' Rose Douglas,* a 
recent meritorious work of fiction, was bom not 
quite a hundred miles from the manse of Cambus- 
lang, and gleaned a number of the characters intro- 
duced into that production from real personages who 
lived, or are still living, within no very great distance 
of that locality." Judging Macdonald's "hundred 
miles " to be a sort of pleonasm, I find that the in- 
cumbent of the Established Kirk of Cambuslang at 
that time was the Rev. J. Stewart Johnston, but 






Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



141 



that gives me no clue as to the lady*s identity. 
^What was the name of this forgotten authoress ? 
' . Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

822. Drumquhassill. — Readers of the history 
of Scotland during the nonage of James VI. will 
remember the frequency of the Laird of Drumqu- 
hassil in the internecine conflicts between the ad- 
herents of Queen Mary and those of the Regent 
Moray. His name was John Cunningham, and he 
sided with the Regent's party. He is described as a 
valiant and skilful soldier, and certainly wherever 
there was fighting going on he was in the vanguard, 
doughtily contesting, with his own countrymen or 
with the auxiliary French. He was associated with 
Crawfurd of Jordanhill in the successful escalade 
and capture of Dumbarton Castle in 1 571, and in 
the surrender of Edinburgh Castle in 1578, but falling 
under the suspicion of the mushroom Earl of Arran, 
he was executed at Edinburgh, along with Malcolm 
Douglas of Mains, on 9th February, 1585. Arran 
himself perished ignominiously in 1596 by the 
Douglas faction. My query is: Where was this 
lairdship of Drumquhassill situated ? I cannot trace 
it in the "New Statistical Account of Scotland." 
Probably its name has been changed long ago, and 
it is extremely doubtful whether the Cunningham 
Camily possess it now. I presume that it was in 
Ayrshire, the northern district still retaining the 
name of Cunningham, but Paterson's volumes on 
Ayrshire families are not in our public library. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

823- Cardno Family. — What is the meaning of 
this name ? Is it derived from the lands of Cardno, 
near Fraserburgh, or do the lands take their designa- 
nion from the surname ? I have heard it stated that 
the family is of French origin, and came to Scotland 
with the Frasers. I do not, however, find Cardno 
as a surname in Scotland earlier than the latter part 
of the fifteenth century. J. M. A. W. 

824. LuNAN Families. — Dr. Gammack, in a 
query relating to these families (S. N. 6* Q., 2nd S., 
IV., 205), mentioned that their tradition was well- 
known in Aberdeenshire. Where can I find any 
information about the Lunans, or particulars of the 
tradition referred to ? J. M. A. W. 

825. Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire. — 
It is suggested in "The Scottish Nation" that the 
Scottish families of this name are either of Lowland 
origin or belong to the Gaelic sept of Anderson (the 
chief of which being Anderson of Candacraig), an 
offshoot of Clan Anrias. From this it might be in- 
ferred that not a few of the Aberdeenshire families 
of the name are of Celtic descent. Dr. Davidson 
(** Inverurie and the Earldom of the Garioch ") refers 
to some Anderson families in Inverurie, and gives 
an example (p. 120) of the transition of "Andrew" 
to "Anderson," implying a Scottish, as distinct 
from a Gaelic, origin. Although the tamily is very 
numerous in Aberdeenshire and adjacent counties, 
I do not find that the question of its origin has ever 
been considered in the 5. N. &» Q. Where can I 



find any authorities on the subject, or any informa- 
tion as to the origin of such families as the Ander- 
sons of Bourtrie, of Finshaugh or Finzeauch, of 
Tilliekirie, of Comalegy, etc. ? I also find reference 
made in Nisbet's " Heraldry" to a family of Ander- 
son of Airderbreck, apparently connected with Aber- 
deenshire. Where is Airderbreck ? W. 

826. James Watson, Printer, Edinburgh.— 
This well-known printer, in his conflict with Mrs. 
Anderson, had occasion to address a "Memorial" 
to the Secretary of State (Scotland) in the year 1715 
or thereby. It has never been printed, but is evi- 
dently accessible somewhere. Can any corres- 
pondent say where the " Memorial " is, or suggest 
where it may be consulted ? 

Calder Ross. 

827. Andrew Bisset. — This gentleman, a bar- 
rister-at-law, was born at Montrose in 1803. (I quote 
from Joseph Foster's " Men at the Bar," published 
in 1885.) After education in some Scottish university, 
he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, where he 
graduated M. A. He adopted the legal profession in 
1836, and after three years' study was called to the 
Bar in 1839. He wrote on the " Law of Partner- 
ship," and a " Practical Treatise of the Law of 
Estate for Life," but the work which gained him 
most credit in the literary arena was " Memoirs and 
Papers of Sir Andrew Mitchell," Envoy to the Court 
of Prussia from 1753 to 177 1, two volumes, published 
185 1. Mr. Bisset had access to the correspondence 
and State documents of Mitchell, which had been 
bequeathed to Sir Arthur Forbes of Craigievar, and 
preserved in Fintray House. Previous to Mr. 
Bisset*s volumes, there was but a hazy remembrance 
of the great Scottish statesman and companion of 
Frederick the Great. Mr. Bisset also published, in 
1871, "Essays on Historical Truth." What is 
the correct date of his decease? His name dis- 
appears from the " Law List" in 1900, but is in the 
preceding year. If Mr. Foster's date of birth be 
right, and his death in 1899, he must have attained 
the great age of 96. He had a son named Walter 
Bisset, also a barrister. Perhaps some correspondent 
would kindly give the correct dates. There is no 
mention of his decease in the usual literary reposi- 
tories, no more than if he had never existed. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

828. Musical Terms—" Treble," " Bimull- 
Clieff." — Treble is said to come from the Latin 
word tiiribulariuSj a censer carrier, and to mean the 
voice of boys, who threw vessels of silver containing 
burning incense high in the air in churches, with a 
cord attached by which they kept them from falling 
on the floor when they came down. ** Bimull-clieff " 
occurs in Alexander Skene's " Succinct Survey of 
Aberdeen," 1685 : — " In the steeple are three great 
harmonious bells, in sound each descending l^low 
another but by one musicall note, as upon a bimull- 
clieff." What does this term mean ? 

John Milne, LL.D. 



142 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[March, 1907 



829. Patrick Grant, Lord Elchies. — Is any 
portrait of Lord Elchies kno\vn to exist? Inquiry 
at likely places in Edinburgh has proved fruitless. 
I should also much appreciate any references to 
sources of information respecting his career. 

H. D. McW. 

830. Dr. Peter Grant. — A white marble monu- 
ment in the east wall of the old Church of Fetteresao 
is inscribed as follows: — ** Sacred to the memory of 
Mary, daughter of Robert Farquhar, Esq., of New- 
hall, who died May, 1786, aged 23 years; and of 
Hobert, son of Captain Arthur Farquhar, R.N., 
C.B., who died 14th September, 18 16, aged 5 ; and 
of Dr. Peter Grant, some time physician in Aberdeen, 
who died at Mansfield, 23rd February, 1837, aged 76 
years ; and of Amelia Farquhar, his spouse, who died 
at Mansfield, ist December, 1838, aged 6g," Who 
was Dr. Peter Grant ? He is not mentioned in Mrs. 
Rodger's " Aberdeen Doctors at Home and Abroad." 
Was he a graduate of Aberdeen University. 

M. Grant. 

831. Joseph Gordon. — I am anxious to discover 
the origin of a Joseph Gordon who is mentioned in 
the Rev. A. W. H. Eaton's pamphlet on the families 
of Easton-Sutherland and Layton Hill (New York, 
1899) as the grandson of John Gordon, a landed pro- 
prietor in *' Lord Rea's country," and the son of 
James Gordon and his wife, Jane, daughter of 
James Mackay of Muckleferry. Joseph had three 
brothers — Alexander, a planter in Jamaica ; Robert, 
who died of yellow fever in Martinique; and 
John, who also was in Martinique. He also had a 
sister, Christina, who married (i) Donald Sutherland 
of Muckleferry (died 1798), by whom she had several 
children, and (2) Captain George Mun/'o, the 71st 
Regiment (who had previously married M^ry, 
daughter of Dr. Matheson, of Invergordon). * By 
Munro she had James, Mary, and Isobell, all of 
whom were alive in 1865. The name Joseph as 
applied to the Gordons is to be found chieny in 
Sutherlandshire. It appeared specially among the 
Gordons of Carroll. There was also a Joseph 
Gordon at Skibbo, who is said to have been the 
father of George W. Gordon, the ** Jamaica Martyr." 
Any information upon any of these Josephs will be 
welcome. J. M. Bulloch. 



audwers. 



466. Blackwood's Magazine (2nd S., VI., 45, 
63; VII., 127). — After the death of my great- 
grand£ather, the Rev. William Paul, of St Cuthbert's 
Church, Edinburgh, in 1802, his widow and family 
continued to live on in the manse— familiarly known 
as "the West Kirk Manse"— till 1814. Among 
frequent visitors there was a young man who had 
acquired the art of wood engraving, whether as a 



professional or an amateur I am not certain. It 
was he who executed the portrait of George Buchanan 
which, on being shown to William Blackwood, was 
bought by him and used as the vignette on the cover 
of his famous magazine. The artist presented the 
family at the manse with the first impression of the 
engraving, and it is now in my possession in its old 
black frame. This information I had from my grand- 
father, who, at the time referred to, was a resident in 
the manse. I don't remember the young engraver's 
name, if indeed I ever heard it Some time ago I 
communicated with Messrs. Blackwood & Sons, 
but they were unable to give me his name or any 
information as to the circumstances under which the 
engraving was first chosen for the magazine. I may 
add that in the original the face of Buchanan is 
turned to the right instead of to the left, as on the 
magazine to-day, and that the border of thistles 
round the vignette is wanting. Otherwise the two 
are identical. 

Dollar. Robert Paul. 

722. Barclay of Ury (2nd S., VII., 172, 190, 
191 ; VIII., 29). — David Johnstone, bookseller, 75 
Hanover Street, Edinburgh, advertises in his Second- 
Hand Catalogue, XLVIII., item 63, the following:— 
** A Genealogical Account of Barclay of Urie for 
upwards of 700 Years, with Memoirs of CoL D. 
Barclay and Robert Barclay. London, 1812." 
8vo, hf. ci; scarce, los. 

Aberdeen. Robert Murdoch. 

761. Adam Donald (2nd S., VIII., 28, 47)-— I 
thank " W. L. T." for his answer to my query ; it is 
evidently correct. I am not responsible for those 
dates, as I simply copied them from a London 
*' Catalogue of Engraved Portraits " in our Public 
Library. I had a dim recollection of reading a 
pamphlet or article about Donald in my apprentice 
days, and desired more light on the subject. I think 
I recognise in *' W. L. T." the name of a gentleman 
whose fame as a bibliophile has reached Australia, 
and whose treasury of psalters and early Peterhead 
publications I would like to inspect. I am tempted 
to further inquire whether any of Adam Donald's 
predictions came true, or were they onl^ the idle 
vaticinations of a brain-sick enthusiast who 
impressed the neighbouring peasantry into a belief 
of his supernatural gifts ? His portrait being 
amongst a crowd of celebrities is proof that his 
fame had travelled a bit. Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 

765. Moses Provan (and S., VIII., 29, 48). — 
I thank " Evan Odd" for his note in answer to my 
query, and refer ** Chappie" to the same work, 
*' The Glasgow Athenaeum : a Sketch of Fifty Years' 
Work," which I am not likely to see in this colony. 
My books on Glasgow are not up-to-date, being 
half-a-century old. What I read about the 
Athensum was to the eflfect that Mr. Provan was 
one of the leading spirits of the institution, a lover 
of literature, and probably wrote occasionally, but 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



143 



I cannot say more, as I really do not know. I was 
asking for information, and consequently unable to 
give any. I make no apology to ** Chappie " for his 
overhauling so many dusty documents; it will do 
him good and keep him out of harm's way. He 
ought to have consulted Mr. Lauder's book first, and 
then he would not have got bogged in his search. 
'* Chappie," from the tenor of his communication, 
seems to me to have been suffering from ecchymosis, 
which has also tinctured his remarks. Thanks all 
the same tor reminding me of T. Atkinson and H. G. 
Bell. I love and admire both as leal-hearted Scots. 
Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

78a McKelvie, McIlvain (2nd S.,VIII., 62, 
80, 127). — It is a question whether these two names 
have any connection with one another, but " H. D. 
McW.'s" suggestion that they are synonyms of 
Macbean is entitled to respect, though not perhaps 
on the ground he advances. In all probability, Mr. 
F. Adam in his book included the Mcllvains among 
the Macbeans merely because of the similarity of the 
final syllable of their name to the tribal name Clan 
Vean, and he would find difficulty in tracing any 
individuals bearing the name to the Macbean stock. 
There is an unfortunate tendency, even in these 
enlightened days, to assign all persons bearing the 
same name, or something like the same name, to a 
common ancestor or clan, and this tendency is verv 
apparent in the book referred to by " H. D. McW." 
"McIlvain" is probably either "McCoil Bhean" 
(son of &ir Donald), or ** McGille Bhean " (son of 
the fair youth) — the former for choice. I find several 
instances of the epithet " Vain " (*' Bhean ") in docu- 
ments and lists of the 17th and i8th centuries, e.g., 
" McCouchy Vain " (son of fair Duncan). A similar 
name is "Mcllduy" (son of black Donald). 
" McKelvie" is readily traceable to *' McBean." It 
is Mac-gilU'bheatha (MacGilvei), son of the servant, 
or youth of life, and seems identical with a name 
which I have found in Badenoch in the i8th century, 
and by which an existing family of Macbeans con- 
nected with that district is still known. This name 
is McAllvia, spelled variously McGallbea in 1722, 
McCoilbea in 1725, McAllvia in 1727, and McIIlbea 
in 1773. The persons designated by these names 
were Macbeans in the parish of Alvie, of a family 
known locally as *' Clann-*ic-al-bheatha,*' and in a 
communication to the Inverness Northern Chronic U 
of I2th July, 1905, Dr. Alex. Macbain, the well- 
known Celtic authority, says of this local name that 
** the name underlying 'Albheatha is the old Gaelic 
one of Maolbheatha, servant of life, a side form of 
Macbheatha (Macbeth), son of life." Duncan 
McBean, alias McIIlbea, in Achacha of Raits, is 
one of the witnesses cited in the trial of the notorious 
Edward Mackintosh (called of Borlum), before the 
Justiciary Court at Inverness on the 17th of May, 
1773. In one declaration emitted in the previous 
December, Duncan is described as ** alias McCoil 
Bea," in another the alias is omitted, and he is called 
simply ** Duncan McBean in Achacha." 

A. M. M. 



786. **Hail, Smiling Morn" (2nd S., VIL, 
77) 95)' — I would have liked to satisfactorily answer 
Mr. Alan Reid's query as to the authorship of the 
quatrain which SpofTorth has rendered so popular 
with his harmonious setting, but I am afraid that it 
must be assigned to " Mr. Anon," otherwise, anony- 
mous. I felt confident that I would get full informa- 
tion thereanent in Oliphant's " La Musa Madriga- 
lesca" (1837), but on consulting that book I found 
that it was restricted to the history of madrigals of 
the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. I then over- 
hauled a great number of musical collections and 
memoirs, but without success. Mentioning my 
disappointment to a Scottish crony, he blithely 
laughed, and rejoined : — *' Hoots ! it desna maitter ; 
but, man, that first line ' Hail, Smiling Morn, that 
tips the hills with gold,* sets me a-thinkin'. It 
shows clearly the universality o* the practice o* 
tippin', when Aurora began the ploy, an' she wasna 
lookin' gloum at the ootlay either, but smilin' ; an', 
mind ye, her tip wasna siller or copper — na, na ! but 
gold, man. That line proves to me that tippin' was 
coeval wi' the foundation o' this warld, an' nae 
wonder that waiters, jockeys, flunkeys, railway 
porters, commission awgents, an' a clanjamphrey o' 
ithers are eydent an' clamorous for tips ! " 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

808. A Mackie Marriage (2nd S., VIII., 126). 
— The late Mrs. Trevelyan (maiden name, ElizabetJh 
Mackie), was a native of New Byth. She left )C5<^ 
to the poor of the village. Her mother, when 
contradicted, was wont to blaze up, ** I'm the 
mither-in-law o' a nobleman : I'll talc' conter frae 
nane." G. W. 

- 816. Alexander Gordon of Carnousie (2nd 
S., VIII., 126). — Alexander Gordon of Carnousie, 
Forglen, Banffshire, was the youngest son of George 
Gordon of Carnousie, who was, in turn, second son 
of Sir George Gordon of Edinglassie, Mortlach, 
Banffshire. Sir George was second son of John 
Gordon, second Laird of Park (Banffshire). The 
Park Gordons were Rothiemay Gordons. Sir George, 
who was knighted in 1681, was that year made Joint 
Sheriff Principal of Banffshire. In 1685 he was one 
of the Commissioners of the shire. He was a strong 
supporter of William III. during Dundee's rising. 
He died in 1690 or 1691 at Carnousie, which he had 
acquired sometime before. His son George succeeded 
to Carnousie, and was out in the ** Fifteen," on the 
Jacobite side. Arthur, George's eldest son, succeeded 
to Carnousie, and apparently did not go out with 
Charlie in the " Forty-five," though his youngest 
brother, Alexander, the subject of the query, did. 
Banff. Jambs Grant. 

The only person who seems to fit in with "Loudon 
Hill's " queiy is Alexander Gordon (born 1708), the 
sixth son of George Gordon, I. of Carnousie. He 
appears as executor to his sister Catherine's will in 
1764 as " Lieutenant, H.M. Royal Hospital, Green- 
wich. It is difficult to understand, however, how 
this position came to be held by a man who was '* in 



144 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[March, 1907 



I 

Arthur (Iordon, 
II. of Carnousie. 



Elizabeth Gordon, 

mar. Arthur Gordon of 

Law and Wardhouse. 

J. M. B. 



8x7. James Watson's " History of Print- 
ing," Edinburgh, 1713 (2nd S., VIII., 126).— 
Since sending my. query, I have come across the 
following, which seems a partial answer to it The 
extract is from an unpublished MS. by George 
Chalmers, the author of ''Caledonia," and '* Life of 
Ruddiman": — ** The late intelligent George Patient 
(sie) asserted that the preface of this little work, 
which is subscribed by Watson, was, in fact, written 
by John Spottiswoode, advocate. It is the prefoce 
which gives a superficial and inaccurate account of 
the Scottish printers." Chalmers, however, does 
not agree with Patient, for he adds:—" If I were to 
conjecture, I would say that I think Spottiswoode 
wrote the history of the foreign printers, and Watson 
the account of the Scottish printers," and that, there- 
fore, the preface is, like the Pentateuch, Mosaic work. 
Who was this Georgp Patient? I thir^k I have 
accurately transcribed his name. 

Calder Ross. 

819. Duff Family (2nd S., VIII., 127).— A 
reader of Scottish Notes and Queries writes to me 
identifying the place name which I had written 
" Beanmakeloch ^* with " Bomakelloch " or ** Boma- 
calloch," near Keith. The pedigree of 1771, from 
which I obtained the name, was compiled and written 
in France, and I now see that the first syllable of 
the name is clearly ** Beau," not " Bean," as I had 
copied it. A. M. M. 

I think a pedigree of Menzies of Pitfoddels 
appeared in Scottish Notes and Queries a few years 
ago. If so, can a reference be given to it in next 
number? 



Bomakelloch is in the parish of Botriphinie, Banff- 
shire. It is sometimes spelt Balmakellach. It is a 
farm on the estate of Mr. Gordon Duff of Drummuir. 
The name given in the auery is evidently mis-spelt. 
John Duff of Balmakellach was the immediately 
younger brother of Alexander Duff of Keithmore. 
He died in 1696, aged 73 years. Katherine Duflf, 
John Duffs daughter, is correctly given in the pedi- 
gree referred to as *' neptes " (which, however, here 
means ** niece," not grand-daughter or grand-niece), 
of the said Alexander of Keithmore, who was grand- 
father of William, first Earl of Fife. 

Banff. James Grant. 



the exceptions from the Act of Indemnity, 1747." His 
brother, Arthur Gordon of Carnousie, was certainly 
out in the ** Forty-five." The descent of the 
Carnousie Gordons is as follows: — 

SiK Gkorgk Gordon of Park. 

I 
Sir (>K()R(;k Gordon of Edinglassic. 

I 
Gkok(iK (IctKDON, I. of GarriouMc. 



Xttetature* 

Parish of Caimie. Perhaps you may have 
seen the " Parish of Cairnie," by Chief Con- 
stable Jas. Pirie. It appears to me worthy of 
a passing note. Some chapters are very well 
done. Besides, the parish, especially Ruthven 
division, is of rather wide interest, from Jock 
and Tam Gordon, Geo. Macdonald's "Wow," etc. 

Durris. A. M. 



Scots Xoofis of tbe Aontb* 



Barnett, T. Ratcllffe. Fairshiels: Memories of 
a Lammermoor Parish. 12 Illustrations. 8vo. 
Net, 2S. 6d. Oliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier. 

Bulloch, John Malcolm, M.A. The Families 
of Gordon of Invergordon, Newholl ; also Ardoch, 
Ross-shire; and Carroll, Sutherland. 8vo., 122 pp. 
Post free, IS. 3d. Aberdeen : D. Wyllie & Son. 

Fox-Davies, A. C, and Carlyon-Britton. 
P.W.P., F.5.A. The Law Concerning Names 
and Changes of Name. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. 

Elliot Stock. 

Johnson, Trench H. Phrases and Origins and 
Meanings. 8vo. Net, 3s. 6d. 

London: T. Werner Laurie. 

Johnston, G. Harvey. The Heraldry of the 
Douglases. 8 Plates in Colour. 4to. Net, 12s. 6d. 

W. & A. K. Johnston, Ltd. 

Macdonald, Keith Norman, M.D. In Defence 
of Ossian. 4to. Net. 3s. 6d. 

Edinburgh : Norman Macleod. 

Pirle, James. The Parish of Caimie and Its 
Early Connection with Strathbogie. 5 Illustra- 
tions. 8vo. Net, 2S. 6d. and 3s. 

Elgin : James Pirie, 15 Academy Street. 

Ronghead, William (Editor). Trial of Deacon 
Brodie. 21 Illustrations. 8vo. Net, 5s. 

Glasgow : William Hodge & Co. 

Smith, John. The Hammermen of Edinburgh 
and Their Altar in St. Giles* Church. Being 
Extracts from the Records of the Incorporation of 
Hammermen of Edinburgh, 1494- 1558. Demy 
8vo. Net, los. 6d. 

Edinburgh : William J. Hay. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days eailier. Ed. 

Printed and Published at The Bosemount Pre«, Aberdeen. 
Literary communications should be addressed to the JSSofitor, 
23 Osborne Place, Aberdeen; Advertisements and Btataess 
Let^rs to th^ Publishers, Farmer's Hall Lane, Aberdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



voL.vni. 1 Vn in 



April, 1907. 



KEQISTERKD{gjf«5^.^^ 



CONTENTS. 

NOTKS :- Paqb 

Aberdeen American Graduates 145 

Notable Men and Women of Forfarshire 146 

»ooUiBb Poets 148 

The Gait Family 14a 

Scottish Saints and Kalendars 149 

A Bibliography of EdinburKh Periodical Literature 160 

James Sinclair, Arboriculturist 152 

The Late Dr. Crmniond's Publications 154 

AfiHOK Notes :— 

New Spalding Club— MadeUne Smith 147 

Alexander Arbuthnot 148 

The Origin of Place-Name Psalm Tunes— The Family 

of Gray 160 

Y Mackay 151 

Old Parr— Gordon as a Place-Name in London 163 

Abenleen and Inverness Mall Arrangements of 1822 

—Aberdeen Waterman : "A Trair' 154 

QCBRTES :— 

The Word "Pony" :.. 156 

The Cummings of Culter— Scots Episcopacy— Miss 
Oordop, Buby Cottage— "The Standard Babble" 
—Drum used at Harlaw— Shaws of Bothlemurchus 157 
Lawrence and Macintosh Families — Uuntly in 

Bombay 158 

AHSWKBfl :— 

Hie Gordons of Carroll— Mrs. Gordon of Craig— Dr. 
George Washington Bethune— The Highland In* 
dependent Companies — Inglis Family — Captain 
George Gordon, R.N., of Greenhaugh— Sir Cosmo 

Gordon— LoDgmore Family 158 

Gordon- Anderson Marriage— Tinder Boxes in Church 
--Jaidine, Bannie, Dundas — Caddell (? Calder), 
alias MacPherson— "Scoto-Britannicus^'— "Rose 

Douglas"— Dmmqnhassill 169 

MoBical Terms: •'Bimull-Clieff" 160 

litiraturs 160 

Scots Books of thb Month 160 



ABERDEEN, APRIL, igoy. 



ABERDEEN AMERICAN GRADUATES. 



[lit S., /., 137 ; v., y., y;?5, JU; VII., 14, 64, 76, 
141, 175; VIII., I:i7 ; IX., 15; X., 93, 170; 
XI., 173; XII., 66, 94, 1J7, W, 159; ^d S., 
/., 7, 31, 47, 59, 64, 95, 1,^7, 155, 169 ; II., 10, 
:y4, 60, 77, 126, ISS, 171, 186, ; III., I64, 170; 
IV., .?;>, 91; v., 9r7, 1:30; VIII., 56.) 

With the assistance of many friends, in 
Canada, I have been able to add considerably to 
my notes upon the ministers in Canada. . 

lot. R£v. Thomas Alexander (^2nd S., 
IL, p. 171) died at Brantford, Ont., in 1895, 
upwards of. 90 years of age. . . 



134. Rev. Daniel Allan (2nd S., VI IL, p. 
55) died near Stratford, Ont., greatly beloved. 

136. Rev. Daniel Clark (2nd S., Vill., 
p. $5) died at Indian Lands, much respected. 

115. Rev. Alexander Gale (2nd S., III., 
155) seceded in 1844, and became Professor in 
Kno^ College, Toronto : he afterwards received 
the charge of the Home Mission work in the 
Presbyterian Church of Canada, and died at 
Hamilton. 

137. Rev. Henry Gordon (2nd S., VIIL, 
p. 55} continued at Gananoque after seceding, 
and died there. 

145. Rev. James Herald (2nd S., VIIL, 
p. 56) went to Port Arthur, Ont., about 1883, 
and passed on to Medicine Hat in 1885, where 
he died on March 5, 1890, at the age of 64. 
It is told of him at Medicine Hat, as a proof of 
his good judgment, that in 1889 he bought a 
homestead near the town of Medicine Hat for 
ten dollars, and part of it has since been sold 
for 30,000 dollars. 

144. Rev. Alexander Mann (2nd S., 
VIIL, p. 55) died at Pakenham, Ont. 

139. Rev. William Masson (2nd S., VIIL, 
p. 55) was minister of Kirk at Gait, Ont., and 
then returned to Scotland, where he became 
minister of the Parish of Duflus, and afterwards 
retired on account of age. 

141. Rev. Alexander McKid (2nd S., 
VIIL, p. 55) died at Goderich, Ont, May 23, 
1873, aged 69 years. 

149. Rev. Thomas McPherson (2nd S., 
VIIL, p. 56) died at X^ncaster, Ont.,. on May 
14, 1 884, aged 81. I n 1 844 he refused to secede, 
and at the re-union in 1875 ^^ refused to unite 
with those who had seceded. He was noted as 
an eloquent preacher both in English and 
Gaelic, and was familiarly known as ^'Minister 
Macpherson." . " ; 



146 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April, 1907 



151. Rev. John RANNiE(2ndS.,VIII.,p. 56) 
left Chatham, Ont, in 1877, and was 27 years in 
Berbice, British Guiana. He now lives in 
England. 

155. Rev. George Smellie, D.D. (2nd S., 
VIII., p. 56} was descended through a line of 
ministers, and bom in Orkney;, June 14, 181 1. 
For eight years he preached in Lady Parish, 
Orkney, and came to Canada in 1843, where he 
laboured for 44 years in Fergus, Ont, retiring in 
1888, after being 52 years in the ministry. In 
his earlier years he edited the " Memoirs of the 
Rev. Dr. Bayne of Gait," at whose instance he 
had crossed the seas, under appointment of the 
Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland. 
In 1885 he received the degree of D.D. honoris 
causa^ from Queen's University, Kingston. He 
died very unexpectedly in Toronto on Nov. 14, 
1896. 

158. Rev. Alexander Spence, D.D. (2nd 
S., VIII., p., 57) returned to Scotland and died 
at Elgin. 

III. Rev. John Tawse (2nd S., II., p. 
186) died at King, Ont, 1877. 

159. Rev. George Thomson (2nd S., 
VIII., p., 57) died at Renfrew, Ont.. where he 
was mmister. 

113. Rev. Hugh Urquhart, D.D. (2nd S., 
II., p. i86) died at Cornwall, Ont., when 
minister there. 

103. Rev. George Chevne (2nd S., II., p. 
171) died at Sallflect, Ont, in 1878. 

162. Rev. William Ferguson, said to 
have been educated at Aberdeen, was in 1866 
catechist in the Presbytery of Glengary, Ont. 
(" Report • of the Presb. Church of Canada, 
1866,*' pp. 82, 167). He afterwards became 
minister of Kirk at Streetville, Ont, and died 
Uiere. Can this be the William Ferguson, native 
of Peterculter, who graduated at Marischal 
College in 1848? ("Mar. Coll. Records," II., 

525-) 

163. Rev. James Wilson, M.A., said to 
have been educated at Aberdeen, became 
minister at Lanark, Ont, then returned to 
Scotland, where he was minister of Maxwelton 
Chapel, Dumfries. He went back to Canada, 
and officiated in St Joseph Street, Montreal 
(** Report Presb. Church of Canada,'' 1866, pp. 
88, 127). Can anyone identify him as a 
graduate? James Gammack, LL.D. 

West Hartford, Conn. 



NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF 

FORFARSHIRE. 

(Continued from 2nd S., K///., I40.) 



44. Balfour, Robert : Principal of Collie 
at Bordeaux, Scottish Scholar. A native of 
Dundee, where he was bom in 1550, he 

Eublished 1616 '' Commentaria in Organum 
.ogicum Aristotelis," also in 1820 ''Commen- 
tariorum in lib. Arist. de philosophica tomus 
Secundus, quo post Organum Logicum, 

3uaecumque in libris Ethicorum, occurrunt 
ifficilia, dilucide explicantur." His friend Ktdd 
was also born in Dundee. 

45. Balfour, Wm. Douglas, M.P.P. : 
Canadian Politician. Born 1851 in Forfar, but 
taken to Canada in 1857, where he received his 
education. An editor and publisher, he 
established the St. Catharines Daily andWeekly 
News in 1872 and the Anthersburgh Echo in 
1874. After serving on the School Board of 
St Catharines, and being chairman of Ambers- 
burgh Public School Board, and acting as 
Town Councillor, and then Reeve of the town of 
Ambersburgh, he was in 1^82 returned to the 
Legislative Assembly of Ontario as member for 
South Essex, a seat which he continued to.hold 
for many years. He carried through bills for 
the improvement of the law of libel and for 
the restriction of the powers of municipalities 
to grant bonuses. He was a Liberal, and in 
favour of manhood and womanhood suflfira^e. 
If still alive, he is doubtless a prominent 
politician, but my information stops at 1891. 

46. Balfour, William Lawson: Minor 
Poet. Bom at Point House, Carnoustie, 1831, 
he is descended from the poet Alexander 
Balfour. In 1847 he entered the railway 
service, and was station master, Carnoustie. 
He subsequently migrated to Dalmuir, on 
the Clyde, where he has been long a public 
man and a bailie of Clydebank. He has 
written verse, and figures in "Bards of 
Angus and the M earns." 

47. Bannatyne, George: Collector of 
Early Scottish Poetry. A native of Kirktown 
of Newtyle, born 1545, he was a burgess of 
Edinburgh, and to his MSS. compiled during 
the pestilence of 1 568 we owe the preservation 
of much of the Scottish poetry of the fifteenth 
and sixteenth centuries. He died in 1608. The 
Bannatyne Club, instituted by Sir Walter Scott 
in 1823, has published many rare Scottish works 
in poetry and miscellaneous literature. For 



V0L.Vni. 3nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



147 



notice of Bannatyne, see "Sir Thos. Foulis' 
Diary." (S.H.S.) 

48. Bannatyne, James, of Newhall : 
Scottish Judge. He was a son of the laird of 
Newtyle, bred to the bar, and was raised to the 
bench as Lord of Session 1626, and died 1636. 

49. Bannatyne, Thomas, Lord Newtyle: 
Scottish Judge. Bom 31st August 1540, brother 
of No. 45, and bred to the law, he was 
associated with his father as Keeper of the Rolls 
to the Court of Session in 1583. He had 
previously been Justice Depute in 1572, and 
became an ordinary Lord of Session in 1577. 
He died in 1591. 

50. Barnett, James : Minor Poet. Born 
in Dundee in 1825, and bred a printer, he 
emigrated to America. Here he published 
" Four Visions in Twenty Years." He returned 
later in life to Kingsmuir, near Forfar. See 
" Bards of Angus and Mearns," and " Edwards's 
Scottish Poets," Vol. II. 

51. Barclay, David: Scottish Soldier and 
early Quaker. He was the son of the last laird 
of Mathers. Born about 16 10, he was a 
colonel under Gustavus Adolphus during the 
Thirty Years' War, but is chiefly remembered 
to-day as the father of Robert Barclay of Urie, 
the celebrated apologist for the Quakers. His 
father became a follower of George Fox in 1666, 
and young Robert joined the Society of Friends 
two years after, and soon distinguished himself 
by talent and zeal in defence of the views he 
had adopted. 

52. Barclay, Robert : Rector of Scots 
College, Paris. It is a singular instance of the 
diverse types of character occasionally found in 
the same family, that the brother of this Romish 
churchman was a champion of Protestantism, 
who fought under the great Gustavus in Ger- 
many, and who in later years became a devoted 
follower of George Fox, the most individualist of 
all Protestant sects, and that he himself should 
have become a Roman Catholic of such note as 
to be appointed head of the Scots College, 
Paris. 1 1 is an interesting fact that the afterwards 
famous apologist for the Quakers was for some 
time trained under his uncle in Paris, who 
wished to make him his heir, and exercised so 
much influence on the lad's mind that for a time 
he embraced Romanist views. This led to his 
recall home, and there, as we have mentioned, 



after two years with bis father, he became him- 
self a convinced "Friend" in 1668. 

53. Barclay, Wm. : Artist. Born in 
Dundee 1836, he died in 1906. Early in his 
career he won great success, his pictures being 
exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, the 
Royal Academy, and at South Kensington, in 
the sixties. He resided chiefly in his native 
town, where his works were prized. 

Dollar. W. B. R. WILSON. 



New Spalding Club.— At a meeting of the 
Executive Committee of the New Spalding Club 
held recently— Colonel Allardyce, convener, in the 
chair — it was agreed to minute an expression of 
the Committee's sense of the loss sustamed by the 
Club through the death of Mr. William Cramond, 
LL.D. . Mr. Cramond had been an original mem- 
ber of the Club and of its Council, and for many 
years was also a member of its Executive Com- 
mittee. By his monumental works, the "Annals 
of Banff'' and the "Records of Elgin," he helped 
greatly to establish the reputation of the Club. — 
It was also decided to include in the programme 
of the Club a volume of Banffshire records to be 
edited by Mr. James Grant, LL.B., Banff. The 
minutes of the "Barrens and freeholders of the 
Sherriffdom of Banff," begin in 1664 ; those of 
the Commissioners of Supply, in 1696; and the 
Particular Registers of Sasines for the County, in 
1600. From these sources Mr. Grant believes 
that a work of very considerable interest can be 
compiled, illustrative of many phases of county 
admmistration now dead or transmuted, and 
throwing light on county life and, incidentally, on 
national policy. — It was further agreed to. issue 
a third and concluding volume of the "Musa 
Latina Aberdonensis," under the editorship of 
Mr. W. Keith Leask. The volume will deal with 
the writings of the lesser local poets of the six- 
teenth, seventeenth, and early eighteenth cen- 
turies, from Florence Wilson to William Meston, 
including John and William Johnston, the three 
.Wedderburns, the two Leeches, and Professor 
John Ker of the " Donaides " and ** Frasereides." 
Mr. Leask proposes to give metrical renderings 
of the poems of local interest, with copious notes 
explanatory of obscure allusions in the text. 
Colonel Johnston, C.B., presents a photogravure 
portrait of his collateral ancestor. Professor 
William Johnston. 

Madeline Smith. — To several correspon 
dents we beg to say that we do not care to 
follow this lady farther. Ed. 



148 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[Aprii^ 1907 



- SCOTTISH POETS. 

In 1822 Thomas Boys, of Ludgate Hill, 
London, published ** Lives of Scottish Poets," 
3 vols, duodecimo, each volume consisting of 
two parts, about 180 pages each, and with a 
fronttepiece group of five poets -thirty portraits 
altogether— engraved on steel, and nicely 
executed. Some of those gem portraits of 
forgotten bards possess an extra value now, on 
account of their rareness and uncertainty of 
reproduction. I specially allude to those of 
Marcus A. Boyd, James Moor, Caleb Whitefoord 
Alex. Geddes, James Mercer, Francis Garden, 
and Wm. Julius Mickle. There is a singular 
story pertaining. to this collection of biographies, 
and I opine that it is a correct one. It is to the 
effect that there was a literary fraternity in 
London at the beginning of last century and 
close of proceeding one, styled "The 
Club of True Scots." They met frequently, 
probably there was conviviality, and they 
debated keenly, particularly on Scottish themes. 
Under a different name the same Scottish 
Society later on was formed into aii active 
organisation, mainly for the welfare of Scots in 
the great metropolis. At one of their meetings, 
about 1820, it was proposed that memoirs and 
criticisms of Scottish poets should be prepared 
and read by the members, and the project was 
heartily agreed to. Many papers were accord- 
ingly submitted and freely discussed, and 
ultimately a desire was evinced that they should 
be printed in permanent form as a souvenir of 
the brotherhood. Hence those three dainty 
little volumes, the expenses of publication being, 
in all likelihood, defrayed by the members 
themselves. My set is marked " Scarce," and 
that consequently increased the selling price. 
There are 65 memoirs altogether, some very 
brief, others fairly accurate, but all superseded 
now with our fuller knowledge of the past. 
Each memoir is signed with initials, and I had 
the curiosity, in an idle spell, to count them. 
There are 58 different initials to the articles, 
with the exception of A. C. and B. T., who 
supply two small memoirs each. It would be a 
trivial and even futile task to attempt to indicate 
and localise any of those writers. I think this 
verifies the statement that they were primarily 
contributed by different members of the associa- 
tion. Whether all were resident in London or 
not is doubtful, but not of much consequence ; 
probably some obtained help in Scotland. Of 
the more extended memoirs, I specify that on 
James VI., 58 pp., by D. S. (I am inclined to 
attribute this to the Rev. David Scott, minister 
of Corstorphine, and afterwards professor at 



St Andrews, who was stated in an obituary notice 
to have written " lives " of some Scottish poets, 
but this is the only one with D. S. attached). 
The memoirs and critique on Ramsay, 40 pp., is 
by T. T. ; on Burns, 42 pp., by W. G. ( ? WiUiam 
Gillespie) ; Fergusson, 38 pp., by D. C; Geddes, 
36 pp., by W. M. ; and Blacklock, 30 pp., by 
J . R. The editor of the whole series of memoirs 
was a Scottish journalist in London named 
Arthur Semple, who possibly licked some of 
them into presentable shape, and whose initials 
are appended to notes throughout the work. He 
likewise apparently furnished the supplement of 
100 pages to vol. 3, giving concise notices of minor 
poets. Tannahill is included in the supplement, 
but his fellow- townsman Alex. Wilson is not, 
although he died in 181 3. Mn Semple did his 
onerous duty veiy creditably. He probably 
hailed from Renfrewshire, the habitat of that 
ancient family. Is there anything known of the 
further life history of Arthur Semple ? 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



THE GALT FAMILY. 



A correspondent in Baltimore writes as 
follows : — I am interested in tracing out 
the history of the Gaits of Eastern Virginia, 
and am anxious to learn anything that mij^ht 
prove of service in this research. There are 
many difficulties in the way, owing to the 
destruction during our Civil War of many of 
the oldest records of Virginia. The first Gait 
who lived in Virginia, so far as is now known, 
was Samuel, who owned a large plantation not 
very far distant from the proposed site of the 
coming Jamestown Tercentenary Exposition. 
Samuel Gait also had the trade of goldsmith, a 
fact that must have been of great service in 
those troublous times, and would seem not to 
have had the same bearing on social position 
then that it might have at the present day. 
Samuel Gait was living on this estate of 
" Strawberry Banks" in about 1735. My 
descent from him in direct line is as follows : 
Samuel Gait, I.; James Gait, II.; Alexander 
Gait, III. ; William Richard Gait, IV. ; Rogers 
Harrison Gait, V. ; Mary Meares Gait, VI. 

The Gaits of Eastern Virginia have always 
been known as one of the Scotch-Irish families 
of the state. Doctor Dunlop, the friend of 
John Gait, the novelist, in writing to my great- 
grandfather's brother, Colonel Patrick Gait, 
U.S. Army, in 1830, said that about 1680 two 
brothers, William and John Gait, were banished 
by order of the Privy Council because they were 
Covenanters. One of them returned to Scot* 



Vol. Vlll. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



149 



land after the Revolution of t688, and was the 
ancestor of John Gait, the novelist The other, 
Doctor Dunlop says, was the ancestor of my 
great-great-uncle. Colonel Gait. 

In the Royal Proclamation of 1685, William 
Gait of the Walkmill in Wark, and John Gait in 
Gateside, were outlawed. Their names are 
given under the heading, " Stewartown." In 
the summer of the same year, John Gait was 
banished and sent to Port Royal, Catolina, in 
the ship of Captain Gibson. These last two items 
I learn from Woodrow, and from other histories. 
Doctor Dunlop, in his letter to Colonel CJalt, 
says that these two brothers were banished along 
with Lord Cardross. I find that this colony of 
Port Royal was the Colony of Lord Cardross. 
In 1686 the colony was broken up by the 
Spaniards, and we do not know what became of 
John Gait. In his "Literary Life,' John Gait, 
the novelist, says that he doubts not that this 
John Gait was the ancestor of Colonel Gait. If 
this be so, however, we do not know what became 
of the family between this time and the time 
that we find Samuel Gait living in Virginia, in 
about 1730. We are inclined to believe that 
John Gait left Carolina and went to Ireland, 
because there is a strong tradition in the family 
that our ancestor fought in Londonderry, and 
because one tradition asserts that the family 
came to Virginia direct from Coleraine. In this 
case Samuel must have been the son of John, 
and must have been the first one to come to 
Virginia. 

The late Sir Alexander Gait of Canada 
claimed relationship with my grandfather. Sir 
Alexander was the son of the author, John Gait, 
of the Ayrshire family. 



SCOTTISH SAINTS AND K.\LENDARS. 



Alexander Arbuthnot (2nd S.,VIII., 139). 
—Mr. Wilson's note under this name might 
easily have been amplified. It belonged to two 
persons who were contemporaries : 

1. The Printer^ a good account of whom is to 
be found in Dickson and Edmond's "Annals of 
Scottish Printing '' (pp. 271-326). The ascription 
to him of Forfarshire as his birthplace seems to 
be made on slender grounds. Say Dickson and 
Edmond : — " Robert Chambers (* Domestic 
Annals,' Vol. I., p. loi) remarks that Arbuthnet's 
sureties were ' all Forfarshire gentlemen— a 
fact arguing that Arbuthnet himself was of the 
same district ' " (p. 286). 

2. T/ie Poet^ who was better known as a 
divine, and Principal of King^s College, Aberdeen. 
See McCrie's " Life of Melville," ^«j«>//. 

* - .-.:5 VAN.. Odd. 



It is interesting to look over the series of 
Scottish Kalendars which Bishop A. P. Forbes 
collected, and try to see who the saints were who 
got a hold upon the popular favour, and were in 
the best sense national. Those who are ac- 
quainted with the dedications of the old parish 
churches will appreciate the respect paid to the 
familiar names, and will feel their hearts warm 
toward the ancient worthies whose names are 
treasured up in " Tanton " Fair, Laurencekirk ; 
" Paddy" Fair, Fordoun ; "Truel " Fair, Kenneth- 
mont; "Cowan "Fair, Turriff; "Donnan"Fair, 
Auchterless ; " Sinsairs " Fair, Culsalmond ; 
" Simmerees'' Fair, Keith ; " DusUn" Fair, Old 
Deer ; and many such. We have no such 
treasure in America with all our multi-million- 
aires, who are men of yesterday, and may be in 
The Tombs, New York City, to-morrow. By 
tabulating and comparing the Kalendars, I have 
sought to gather out those saints who have a 
recognised place in the commemorations, and 
to pass over those names which do not appear 
to suggest any Scottish tradition. 

January — 7, Kentigema ; 8, Nathalan ; 9, 
Fillan ; 13, Mungo; 15, Maur; 16, Fursey ; 21, 
Wynnin ; 29, Woloc or Makuolok ; 30, Glastian 
or Macglastian ; 31, Modoc. 

February — i, Bryde ; 3, Blase ; 4, Modan ; 7, 
Ronan ; 17, Finnan, and Fintan ; 18, Colman. 

March — i, Minnan, and Marnan ; 2, Cedde ; 
4, Adrian ; 6, Baldred, and Fridolin ; 8, Duthac ; 
10, Kessog or Mackessog, and Hemelin; 11, 
Constantine ; 13, Kennoch ; 16, Boniface; 17, 
Patrick ; 18, Minnan ; 20, Cuthbert ; 30, Ole 
or Olaus. 

April — I, Gilbert ; 5, Tigernac ; 6, Bertham 
or Berchan ; 7, Sigenius ; 13. Guinoch ; 15, 
Mund ; 16, Magnus, Mans, or Mann ; 1 7, Donnan. 

May — I, Asaph, and Ultan ; 8, Gibrian ; 10, 
Gordian ; i r, Congall ; 16, Brandan ; 17, Cathan. : 
18, Conwal ; 29, David; 31, Petronilla. 

June — 4, Fothad ; . 5, Boniface : 6, Colm, 
Colmos, or Columba ; 8, Syra ; 9, Columba ; 
10, Margaret; 12, Ternan ; 15, Carnoc ; 19, 
Margaret ; 23, Ethelred ; 25, Molonach, Moluoc, 
or Moloc. 

y«/K— I, Serf or Servan ; 3, Gutbagon; 6, 
Palladius ; 8, Kilian ; 15, Nine Maidens, and 
Plechelm ; 1 8, Thenna or Theuna ; 29, Sampson ; 
29, Ole or Olaus. 

August — 10, Blane ; 16, Rock ; 17, I nan or 
Ernin ; 24, Erchad ; 27, Malrube or Ruffus ; 30, 
Fiacre ; 31, Aidan. 

.Scpt€7nber—\^,G\\^% or Egidius ; 9, Queran or 
Kyran ; 15, Mirin ; 16, Ninian ; 22, Lolan ; 23, 



ISO 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April, 1907 



Theunan or Adamnan : 25, Barre or Finbar ; 28. 
Conuall and Manchan. 

October — 8, Triduane ; 1 1 , Kenicus or Kannich ; 
13, Conwallen or Congan, Fintan or Fincane, 
and Findoca ; 15, Colniau ; 16, Gall : 17, Rule 
or Regulus ; 18, Monon ; 25, Marnok ; 26, Bean ; 
29, Kenneir or Kennera ; 30, Tarkin or Tala- 
rican ; 31, Fillan. 

Navetfiber — i, Beye; 2, Maura; 3, Englate; 
6, Willibrord; 8, Moroc and Gervad; 12, Machar, 
and Livin ; 13, Kilian and Devinick ; 14, Middan, 
Modan, or Medan ; 15, Machute ; 16, Margaret ; 

17, Fergus or Tergusius ; % Middan or Medana ; 
20^ Maxence ; 21, Columba ; 27, Ode or Odda. 

December — i, Eloy or Eligius ; 2, Ethernan ; 
12, Finnian or Findan ; 14, Drostan ; 16, Bean ; 

18, Manere ; 22, Ethemase, and Mayota ; 23, 
Caran or Karran ; 26, Mofutacus or Fotin. 

James Gammack, LL.D. 
West Hartford; Conn. 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc) 



The Origin of Place-Name Psalm Tunes. 
— This is a feature of psalm tunes which has not 
been noted, so far as I am aware. We are all 
familiar with the tunes which bear the names of 
" St Kilda,'' " Dundee," " Perth," etc. Mr. W. 
Milne Gibson, in his recently published book, 
"The Old Scottish Precentor," notes at least ^\t, 
Aberdeenshire place-name tunes which came 
into use "about the middle of the i8th century" 
(page 51). These are " Fintray," " Monymusk," 
" Kintore," " Rayne," and " Paradise"— this latter 
word being a local term for a certain district of 
Monymusk. Now, a simple, interesting question 
arises here : Why were these parish names 
selected as psalm-tune names in preference to 
others ? This difficulty seems to be explained 
by the fact that an ex-soldier, Thomas Shannon, 
began a reform movement in the art of " sacred 
music" in Monymusk in 1760-1761 (see "Pillars 
of Bon- Accord," Part I., p. 41). It would appear 
that he had also taught classes in those parishes 
which I have mentioned, because, as Mr. Gibson 
says, "when the new . . . West Church 
[of Aberdeen] was opened on 9th November, 
1755) ^^ ^"^ ^ band of his pupils — mostly farm 
servant lads and lasses from Kintore, Kemnay, 
Fintray, and Monymusk — led the praise," etc. 
(page 27). Stand Sure. 

The Family of Gray.— It may interest 
genealogists to know that Mr. Alexander Gray, 
Ibrox, Glasgow, is at work on an account of tHe 
family of Gray, because one branch of the family 
is closely connected with Schivas, near Gight. 
Another branch held Skibbo Castle now owned 
by Mr. Carnegie. 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol VIIL.p. J.:*J.J 
[Supplementary. ] 

1764. The Edinburgh Advertiser. No. i. January 
3, 1764. 8 pp., large 4to, 3 cols, to page. '* Edin- 
burgh : printed by Alexander Donaldson and John 
Reid, and sold at their printing house in the 
Castlehill, where advertisements and commissions 
are taken in. Advertisements and commissions 
are also taken in at A. Donaldson's shop in Edin- 
burgh, and also at his shop near Norfolk Street, in 
the Strand, London." No. 2 gave the price as 2^d. 
The opening number fully sets forth the reasons 
why the Advertiser was undertaken : 

" The altanttions that took pbice in October ImI relat- 
ing to the coune of the puftU, suggested the Idea of the 
expediency and utility of a newspaper calculated in 
some measuhe to correspond to the fteqaency of the 
Iiosts. By the late regulations there are five porta 
from London, viz., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 
Friday, Saturday, on all of which days newepapers may 
be received from the metropolis ; but on two of them, 
viz., Tuesday and JFHday, there are no newspapeca 
published in Edinburgh. ... At the desire, there- 
fore, of seversl gentlemen, merchants and others, tlie 
editors have been induced to publish the Bdintwur^gk 
Advertiser,'* 

The journal was accordingly published on Tues- 
days and Fridays. With quite unusual uniformity, 
the same days of publication were maintained to 
the last. As to the general scope of the paper, 
the projectors say : — 

" Besides what are properly called news, the Editori 
will give tlie utmost attention to whatever nq t anl a 
religion, trade, manufactures, agriculture, and pcriiMca 
in Greut Britain and the Colonies thereof. . . . 
Nor tihall the article of entertainment, fat which there 
is so large a demand, be unregarded, fissan on useful, 
Ingenious, and entertaining subjects, both in prose and 
verse, and of moderate extent, will be thankfully 
received and readily Inserted." 

The title page of the first half-yearly volume bore 
the motto, which appears to have been an Edin- 
burgh favourite: 

" Quictiuid agimt homines, votum, temor. ira, volt^ttas, 
Uaudla, discursuB nostri est farrago libelll. " 

It also had the imprint: *' Printed by Alexander 
Donaldson and John Reid, for Alexander Donald- 
son." Reid's name, however, disappeared with 
Na 67, Tuesday, August 21, 1764. 

Alexander Donaldson had already made his 
name well known as the purveyor of cheqs reprints. 
By the Act of 1709, copyright lasted for 14 yean 
only, although the London booksellers and printers, 
acting on what they considered co mm on law, 
claimed perpetuity in literary property. Donald- 
son disregarded their opinion, and flooded the 
market with cheap copies of volumes whose legal 
copyright had expired. The situation invoMd 
several important law suits, but Donaldson olti* 



VOL.VI1I. 2ncl Series.] SCOTT/S// NOTES AND QUERIES 



15^ 



mately got a final decision in his favour. The 
contest, however, did not leave the adventurous 
Edinburgh printer scatheless. In the year before 
he began the Advertiser^ he received the censure 
of Dr. Johnson, who laughingly declared him to be 
** no better than Robin Hood, who robbed the rich 
in order to give to the poor." Croker indexed him 
as ** Donaldson, Alexander, the piratical book- 
seller.'* With such an enterprising printer and 
publisher it is not astonishing that the Advertiser 
made its way, even although it had the Courant 
and the Mercury as rivals. In beginning his second 
volume (No. 53), Donaldson had the satis&ction 
of intimating that 

"The design was well relished by the public, snd a 
numerous subecription wu obtained. . . we have 
recelred letters from our correspondents and readers 
in Edinbnrsh and almost every county in Scotland that 
our labours have not been unacceptable." 

Exactly ten years after the start of the paper, 
its control passed into the hands of Donaldson's 
son, Alexander, then a youth of twenty-one, and 
designed to leave his name unalterably associated 
with Edinburgh, through his bequest of the money 
that founded Donaldwn's Hospital. His name 
appears in the imprint, for the first time, in the 
first week of January, 1774.* It was during the 
son's proprietorship of the journal that the most 
stirring events of its history took place. In 1792 
a contemporary referred to it as '* tne least political 
in Edinburgh," filling its space with "historical 
affairs" and leaving little room for *' political 
subjects." Donaldson, however, did not escape 
scatheless from the troubles of the time. Scotland 
was moved to its centre by the sedition scares that 
were abroad, and the Advertiser office fell under 
the suspicion oithe authorities: 

"▲boat the year 1794, a most vexatious circumstance 
occurred. Some of the workmen in the printing-office 
took it into their heads to print what was called a 
seditious handbill, and to scatter it among the 
Inhabitants of the Oowgate and other low sheets, 
telling them it was how to get cheap sugar. The 
dangerous missile was traced to the AavertUer office, 
and it was a grievous blow to Mr. Dcmaldson to have a 
magistrate come to his immaculate premises to seize 
the printers of a seditious paper. The delinquents 
were not treated very harshly, but their connection 
with the printing-bouse was at an end." f 

The international complications of the time made 
the people eager for news, and Donaldson did his 
best to supply the want*. He 

"decidedly adopted the politics of Pitt and Dunda^, 
and advocated their cause with no great delicacy 
towards those who differed from them. . . . The 
BMnburffh Adoertiwr was carried on by very inexpen- 
sive means. No liberal fees were paid to reporters and 
correspondents; whatever news came by chance or 

An Interesting MS. note is found on the cop^ for January 
3, 1786l In the volume I have examined. It throws a light 
upon the way the expensive newspapers of the time passed 
from hand to hand. It reads : "Gentlemen, the newspapers 
Di wk be kept clean, and read as soon as possible, for they 
are to be returned to Sdinbursh again, or we are to have 
BO more of them. They are to be sent to W. M'Kenzie." 

t *' KfSmioisoenoes of a Printer in the AdverUeer offloe.'* 
•^L eitun B<ntr, February, 1867. 



oonld be estcacted ftvm the London newspapers, was 
sufficient tor the Korthem provincial appetite. . . . 
The Mortdntf ChrvnAdBy conducted by Mr. Perry, and 
often oontauiing articles by Mr. Fox and the whig 
party, played an important part among the Journals en 
the m^ropolis, but was too stiong fOr the A4i99rtiur^ 
and never entered its offipe to dilute or modify its aati- 
Jacobinism. This was the temper of the general 
public : hatred and fear of the Fftncb predominated^ 
and the BdMburgk AdventSmr pfoqiered greatly." * 

Mr. Norrie gives an amusing illustration of this 
Edinburgh lutred towards their ancient allies. 
He 9ay% that Donaldson sometimes increased the 
number of the enemy who fell in battle by ten 
times, and adds that ** at the close of the war it 
was computed that the Advertiser had killed more 
Frenchmen than there was population in Francel'* 
The paper was also fortunate in the days of 
publication, for it frequently anticipated its con- 
temporaries. News 01 the Battle of the Nile came 
on a Friday, and Donaldson jocularly declared that 
he had special arrangements with Pitt *'to favour 
him \vith early and authentic intelligence." 

In 1819 some change in the proprietorship 
seemed pending. On January 29 of that year the 
imprint contamed only the words *' Published 
by James Donaldson. Price jd," On Friday, 
March 10, this was changed to ** Printed by Claud 
Muirhead" — an imprint vriiich, on Tuesday, 
November 21, was amplified into "Printed and 
published by Claud Muirhead.'* The title page of 
the first half volume of i8ao contained the longer 
imprint. The change of proprietorship from 
Donaldson to M airhead involved no drastic 
alteration in the conducting of the paper, for the 
new owner was the son of one who had "long been 
the principal manager and superintendent of the 
office." The Muirheads retained the property to 
the end. 



26 Circus Drive, 
Glasgow. 



W. J. COUPBR. 



Y Mackay.— In the recently published work, 
titled " The Book of Mackay/' the author says 
that "V represents "Aoidh," the genitive of 
"Aodh," which he thinks comes from ** Aed," a 
Celtic word supposed to mean *' the fiery or im- 
petuous one." Other forms of "Aoidh** are "lye, ' 
'*Eyg," "Aytho," "Athyn," «Eth,»«Heth/» **Head." 
He regards '* Hugh " as a different name, equi- 
valent to the Gaelic *' Huistean,'' which is made 
in Latin Hugo, while "Aodh" is in Latin "Odo" 
or ^' Odoneus." Another reason for differentiat- 
ing "Aodh" and "Hugh" is, he says, that in 
various instances two brothers may he found in 
the same family, where the one is called "Aodh** 
and the other " Hugh." 

John Milne, LL.D* 



Ibkt, 



152 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April, 1907 



I >i.^ I Ja^a^t* 



JAMES SINCLAIR, ARBORICULTURIST. 

T^e late James Grant, novelist, in his last 
published book, ** Scottish Soldiers of Fortune," 
which is disfigured with many inaccuracies and 
misprints, yet containing curious and out-of-the- 
way information, alludes, in his section ** Scots in 
Russia," to James Sinclair, the Scottish landscape 
gardener, who resided for over thirteen years on 
the estate of Prince WoronzoiT,in the Crimea, and 
laid out those gardens which were the admiration 
alike of the British and French allied forces 
during the great Crimean War of 1854-5. As 
Sinclair finished his career in Melbourne fully a 
quarter of a century ago, a brief biography of the 
man may not be thought unworthy of a niche in 
Scottish Notes and Queries^ being in all probability 
known to only a limited number. 

He was a ** Morayshire loon," and when very 
ypung was employed at Altyre House, near 
Forres, the seat of Sir William Gordon Cumming. 
We get a glimpse of him then from an autobio- 
graphical sketch contributed to the Gardener's 
Chronicle by the late Mir. Donald Beaton, the 
scientific horticulturist, famed for his experiments 
m dahlia cultivation. He stated that when he 
was foreman of the Altyre Gardens there was a 
^^ ^f g^us there, named Sinclair, who was 
either drawing figures, scribbling rhymes, or 
playing on the violin. The latter acquirement 
secured to the boy the friendship of one of the 
Baronet's sons, Ronaleyn Gordon Cumming, 
afterwards famed as a lion hunter in Africa, but 
then a fine, high-spirited lad, who frequently 
pleaded with his mother for a dance m the 
gloamin', and Jamie Sinclair was the musician 
on such occasions, for Lady Cumming could not 
refuse the request of her gsdlant boy. 

This brought Sinclair under the surveillance 
of her Ladyship, and she had him educated and 
trained as a regular gardener, and his progress 
was rapid. He went to London and remamed four 
years m.Kew Gardens under Mr. T. A. Knight, 
the president of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
(Sinclair's skill in drawing and colouring of plants 
.was freely recognised, but his ability also as 
a landscape gardener brought him still more into 
"notice. In 1838, when Prince Woronzoff applied 
to Mr. Knight for a capable person to improve 
his Crimean estate, Sinclair was selected for the 
position. He resided there for nearly fourteen 
^ears and planted about 1,000 acres as vineyards 
and fruit avenues, and made such use of his 
passion for arboriculture as to make him renowned 
over Russia. It should be remembered that the 
Crimea was originally settled as a Greek colony, 
and still bore upon its ^surface the -relics and 
evidences of an extinct but superior civilisation. 



Sinclair conserved whatever retnains of Grecian 
art were upon the Prince's domain with pious 
care, and made them effective as foils to his 
gardening improvements. 

His fame ultimately reached the Czar Nicholas, 
who sent for him and consulted him anent im- 
provements in St. Petersburg. The Emperor 
was so pleased with Sinclair's ingenious sugges- 
tions that he decorated him with the Imperial 
Order of St. Anne, and gave him a passport to 
travel free from one end of the Russian Empire 
to the other^ and of this boon James Sinclair 
freely availed himself, visiting every botanical 
garden in that vast kingdom, and taking notes 
thereat which he intended to publish. He also 
penetrated into Austria and Prussia for the same 
purpose. 

At the close of 1851 he returned to Britain and 
made a lengthened sojourn in Morayshire, leaving 
a manuscript volume of poems in Elgin at the 
local newspaper office ; but his forte did not lie 
in the weaving of verse, although he thought 
otherwise. He was in treaty with a London 
publisher to have his " Tour of the Continental 
Gardens " printed, but before he had fairly written 
out his press "copy," hostilities had begun between 
Russia and Turkey, which eventuated in the 
great Crimean War, in which Great Britain, 
France, and Sardinia espoused the cause of 
Turkey against the Muscovite foe. 

As James Sinclair was the only Briton who 
knew intimately about Sebastopol, the. Russian 
Ambassador ere he quitted England was afraid 
that " the grand old gardener " .would divulge to 
the British Government what he had seen and 
learnt of the great fortress ; but Sinclair was not 
built that way — in other words, he had not been 
long enough in London to acquire the polish of a 
suave and hypocritical scoundrel He was a noble 
Scot ; and having served his patrons in Russia 
for years, he disdained to act as an informer against 
them. He kept his knowledge to himself, re- 
jecting alike threats and entreaties and stale 
platitudes about patriotism and such-like bosh, 
which the wily Southron often too successfully 
uses to entrap the credulous Scot. In con- 
sequence of the turmoil caused by the war, his 
projected book on continental gardens was never 
published, nor the companion volume of verse, 
" Musings on the Shores of the Black Sea.*' 

At the close of 1854, Sinclair emigrated to 
the Colony of Victoria, and was immediately 
employed in Melbourne as a landscape gardener. 
He laid out the Fitzroy (jardens there, and was 
appointed curator, residing in a cottage on the 
grounds. He published, in 1 855, the "Gardenei-'s 
Magazine and Journal of Rural Economy,'^ and, 
in 1857, the, "Australian Sacred Lyre," which 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



153 



was severely criticised in the Athenaum^ a well- 
known literary periodical. . His verse, while con- 
taining just sentiments and agreeable images, 
with a keen perception of the beautiful, is very 
unequal, and, in many instances, unworthy of 
print But he would not forsake the muse : he 
had an ingrained hankering after poetical fame, 
which always eluded his grasp. He kept on 
rhyming to the last, for a printer acquaintance 
of mine, who used to scribble versified stuff, 
ocjcasionally visited the old man in his cottage 
to do a little tinkering of his crude rhymes. On 
such occasions Sinclair supplied the printer, 
who was a showy and pretentious Southron, 
with spiritual inspirafion in the guise of 
capacious doses of" Long John" and the ** Dew 
of Ben Nevis," so much so that the loquacious 
and bibulous comp. became speedily obfuscated. 
The fellow could always get "a drink on the 
cheap" when so inclined — and that was frequently 
the case with him— by calling and inquiring 
about how the poems were progressing, .\stute 
dodger that — and he used to gasconade after- 
wards how he fooled the old fellow ; but — yes, 
but the whisky was prime, although the verse 
was primitive. However, Sinclair published no 
more poems, and his MS. was, I presume, sold 
as waste paper. When passing through the 
Gardens on my way to work, I often saw the old 
man, with one foot resting on a spade, and in a 
contemplative attitude, having a dreamy and far- 
away look — probably indulging in a reverie of 
old times when settled by the shores of the 
Euxine Sea. I certainly would have liked a 
chat with him, and willingly would have essayed 
the task to marshal his hobbling verse into 
decent order, but the demands of business and 
the want of a formal introduction — that intoler- 
able shackle of modern civilisation — restrained 
any advances on my part. He died at his house 
in the Fitzroy Gardens on the 29th April, 1881, 
.aged 72. His ablest publication in Australia 
was "The Beauties of Nature, and how far they 
transcend those of Art," a thesis drawn up by a 
practical expert. 

There was not even a paragraph in the Mel- 
bourne papers when Sinclair made his final exit. , 
"The best o' fowk are never missed'' — besides, he I 
was only a Scotchman ! I wrote an account of 
him, which appeared in the Coltingwood 
Observer, conducted by Mr. James Macalpine 
Tait, J. P., son of the famous Glasgow Radical, 
John Tait, editor of the Liberator, who died in 
1837, and had his elegy written by Sandy 
Rodger. Mr. Tait is an aged journalist now, 
and a week ago miidca valedictory address to 
his readers, after 50 years' labour with the pen. 
- l'kAoW:.noi whelbe»^ there i^a stone to Sinclair's 



memory in the Melbourne Cemetery ; but the 
Fitzroy Gardens will remain a lasting memorial 
of his skill and ability as an arboriculturist. 

Alba. 
Melbourne, Australia. 



Old Parr.— When visiting the Royal Picture 
Gallery of Dresden iii 1902, 1 saw about twenty 
portraits by . the celebrated Sir Anthony Van 
Dyck, and amongst them one of Old Parr. I was 
amused to read in the excellent catalogue (500 
pp.), compiled by Dr. Julius Hubner, this curious 
blunder : — " Portrait of the Scotchman, Thomas 
Parr in his 151st year." How the Shropshire 
centenarian came to be described as a Scot is a 
puzzle for the ingenious in such matters. A note 
stated that the picture was in the collection 
of Charles I., and after changing hands several 
times it was secured by Hyacinthe Rigaud 
(died 1743), who was styled the "French Van 
Dyck," and he sold it to Count Wackerbarth 
for the Elector of Saxony. Van Dyck, it-may be 
remembered, married a ^Scottish lady, Mary 
Ruthven, a descendant of the Earls of Gowrie. 

Alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



Gordon as a Place Name in London. — 
The name of Gordon is extensively used in 
Bloomsbury (the Bedford estate), the 6th Duke 
of Bedford having married in 1803, as his second 
wife, T^ady Georgiana Gordon, the sister of the 
last Duke of Gordon. The best known part of 
the estate in which the name is used is Gordon 
Square. In it stands Gordon Hall, which is the 
name of a girls' school in connection with the 
Apostolic Church : while Gordon Place and 
Gordon Street run into it. There is also a 
Gordon Street in the City Road. In Francis 
Street, which runs parellel with Tottenham 
Court Road, a new block of buildings is called 
Gordon Mansions. Then there is Huntley Street 
running off Bedford Square. The name Cosmo 
was introduced into the Gordon family through 
the second Duke's friendship with Cosmo de 
Medici, and is used to name a lane connecting 
Queen Square with Southampton Row, and quite 
recently a big hotel called the Cosmo Hotel has 
been erected at the comer of the lane. There 
is a Gordon Place in Campden Grove, but Mr. 
E. V. Lucas, who lives there, does not know how 
it came by the name. There is a Gordon 
(}rove at Camberwell, a Gordon Road at 
Peckham, and another- (iordon Road at Stoke 
Newington. (lOrdon House Road runs from 
Highgate Road to Gospel Oak Station. 



154 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April, 1907 



AnERDEENAND INVERNESS MAIL ARRANGE- 
MENTS OF 1822.— According to a MS. at the 
end of an ** Aberdeen Almanac," that year the 
mail arrangements were as follows : — 

Dispatched from Aberdeen ... 5 o p.m. 

Arrives at Oldmeldrum 7 10 ,, 

„ „ New Stables .... S 50 ,, 

,, „ Banff 10 28 „ 

Allowed for Coach business ... o 10 mins. 

Arrives at CuUen 12 18 a. m. 

„ „ Fochabers i 46 „ 

„ Elgin 2 51 „ 

„ „ Fochabers 4 16 ,, 

,, ,, P.O. Inverness ... 7 46 „ 

I hour and 14 mins. allowed for making up North 

mail. 

Return from Inverness to Aberdeen. 

Dispatch from Inverness . . . . 4 30 a.m. 

Arrives at Nairn 6 30 „ 

„ „ Forres 7 50 „ 

Allowance for Breakfast at Forres . . 20 mins. 

Arrives at Elgin 9 35 a.m. 

„ „ Fochabers 10 38 „ 

„ • ,, Cullen 12 6 p.m. 

„ „ Banff I 46 „ 

Allowance for- Dinner at Banff ... 25 mins. 

Arrives at New Stables . . . . 3 49 p.m. 

„ „ Oldmeldrum .... 5 34 „ 

,, ,, P.O. Aberdeen ... 7 44 „ 

Aberdeen. Robert Murdoch. 



Aberdeen Waterman— A "Trail.' -Before ' 
water was brought into the town from the wells 
about Gilcomston Dam in I767,a man went about 
with two trees — like the trams of a cart — with the 
ends trailing upon the ground, with cross bars, 
and a large barrel, which he filled with water 
and earned to families who were to wash or 
brew. In the winter time he and his horse cut 
a queer figure. He had a large, coarse cloth 
hocKi that covered his head and shoulders, 
and the horse's hoofs were generally full of 
icicles, which rattled as he went along at a very 
slow pace. He was mostly employed m the night 
time, and slept all day. His pay was only id. 
per barrel, but he always got some broken meat 
The mark on a road made by such a conveyance 
was called a " trail." This term used to occur 
frequently in novels in which the Red Indians 
of N(»th America were introduced. After 
European settlers came, the Indians got 
possession of some of their horses by stealing 
them or catching runaways. Having no 
conveyances, they harnessed them to two long 
slender trees on which they placed their 
wigwams and young children when journeying 
from place to place, and the tracks they made 
were called " trails.'' 

John Milne, LL.D. 



THE LATE DR. CRAMOND'S 
PUBLICATIONS. 

Some time ago the late Dr. Cramond ex- 
pressed his belief that the only complete sets of 
his publications were to be found in the Aber- 
deen University Library and in the Advocates 
Library, Edinburgh. We shall be glad to learn 
if any items have escaped the compiler of the 
appended list. 

1880. Annals of Cullen : being extracts from re- 
cords relating to the affairs of the Royal Burgh of 
Cullen, 960-1879. Banff: printed at the Banff- 
shire Journal office. 1880. (6J x 4 in. Pp. 38. 
Some copies on large paper, 8x4^ in.) 

1882. Reminiscences of the old town of Cullen, 
1 81 2- 18, with plan of the town. [Quotations.] 
Aberdeen: John Adam, 73 Union Street CuUen: 
Geo. Scivwright. 1882. (8^ x si in. Pp. [4] + 
5i+[i]. Three folding plans. Printed by G. 
Cornwall & Sons.] 

1883. The church and churchyard of CuUen. 
Printed for the author, and sold by John Adam, 
73 Union Street, Aberdeen, and G. Seivwright, 
Cullen. 1883. (8J x si in. Pp. viii. + 168. Five 
photographic plates. Printed by G. Cornwall 
and Sons. 

1885. The church and churchyard of Deskford. 
Banff: printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 
1885. (6Jx4in. Pp. 37 + [i]-) 

1885. The church and churchyard of Rathven. 
Banff : printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 

1885. (6i X 4 in. Pp. 135 +[!]•) 

1885. The presbytery of Fordyce. Banff : printed 
at the Banffshire Journal office. 1885. (6^ x 4 
in. Pp. 74 + 4 [reviews].) 

1886. The church and churchyard of Boyndie. 
Banff: printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 

1886. (64 X 4 in. Pp. 79 + [i] + 4 [reviews]. ) 

1886. The church and churchyard of Fordyce. 
Banff: printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 
1886. (6^x44 in. Pp. 115 -h[i] + 4 [reviews].) 

1886. The church and churchyard of Ordiquhill. 
Banif : printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 
1886. (6 X 4i in. Pp. 74. ) 

1887. Inventory ol the charters, burgh court 
books, books of sasine, etc., belonging to the 
bargh of Cullen, deposited within the Council 
chamber of the burgh, 1887; together with a 
copy of the charter of the burgh, and translation 
thereof; copy of the covenant of CuUen, and 
perambulation oi the marches of the burgh. 
Banff: printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 
(7I X5 m. Pp. i9+[i], and coloured cover with 
title.) 

1887. Inventory of the charters, bip^h court 



Vol. Vi 1 1.2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



155 



books, books of sasines, etc., belonging to the 
burgh of Banff, deposited within the council 
chamber of the burgh. 1887. Banff: printed 
at the Banffshire Journal office. (7x4^ in. 
Pp. 8, and coloured cover with title.) 

1887. The plundering of Cullen House by the 
rebels: an incident m the Rebellion of 1745-46. 
Narrated by eyewitnesses of the plundering. 
[Quotation.] Printed for the compiler by W. F. 
Johnston, Buckie. . 1887. (8^x5^ in. Pp. iii.— 
xii. (misprinted xi. ) + 25 + [3]. ) 

[1888] The annals of Cullen : being extracts from 
records relating to the affairs of the royal burgh 
of Cullen, 961-1887. Second edition. Printed 
by W. F. Johnston, Buckie. (Reprinted from 
Banffshire Advertiser. 7 x 4J in. Pp. [4] +127 

1888. Illegitimacy in Banffshire: facts, figures, 
and opinions. Reprint^ from the Banffshire 
Journal of January 10, 17, 24, and 31, February 
7 and 14, 1888. Banff: Banffshire Journal office. 
MDcccLXXXviii. (7^x44 in. Pp.74.) 

1889. The penny guide to Cullen. Published by 
George Seivwright, The Square, Cullen. 1889. 
(4I X 3^ in. Pp. 48 (27 — 48 advertisements), and 
folding' map. Printed by G. Cornwall & Sons, 
Aberdeen. ) 

[189 ?] The ancient office of Mair. [Not seen.] 

1890. The church of Speymouth. Elgin : stereo- 
typed and printed at the Couratit and Courier 
ofhce. 1880. (7X4jin. Pp. 97 4 [i].) 

1890. History of the Bede House of Rathvcn. 
Buckie: printed at the Banffshire Advertiser 
office. 1890. (7 X 4$ in. Pp. 14, one plate, and 
coloured cover with title.) 

1891. The annals of Banff. Vol. I. Aberdeen : 
printed for the New Spalding Club, mdcccxci. 
(10X7J in. Pp. xvi. + 385-»-[i]; nine plates. 
Printed by Milne & Hutchison. 

1892. The castle and the lords of Balveny. With 
illustrations. Elgin : printed at the Courant and 
Courier office. 1892. (7x4^ in. Pp. 43+[i]; 
illustrations in the text.) 

1892. Illegitimacy in Banffshire. Paper read on 
9th August in the Economic section of the British 
Association at their meeting in Edinburgh in 1892. 
. . . Reprinted from the Banffshire Journal 
of August 9 and 16, 1892. (7x4.^ in. Pp. 24.) 

1S92. The penny guide to Cullen. Second edi- 
tion. Published by George Seivwright, The 
Square, Cullen. 1892. (4ix3jin. Pp. 44 + [30]; 
advertisements, coloured cover with title, and one 
plate. Printed at the Advertiser office, Buckie.) 

1893. '^^ annals of Banff. Vol. II. Aberdeen : 
printed for the New Spalding Club. MDCCCXcni. 
(10 x 7f in. Pp. xii. +498; eleven pUtes. Printed 
by Milne & Hutchiaon.) 



[1893] The family of Milne in Banff. Extracted 
from the *' Annals of Banff." With notes by 
G. C. M. (9^ X 7^ in. Pp. 10.) 

1893. The making of a Banffshire burgh : being 
an account of the early history of Macduff. 
Banff: printed at the Banffshire Jountal office. 

1 893. (6^ X 4 in. Frontispiece + pp. [2] + 40. ) 

1894. The annals of Fordo\in : being extracts 
from letters relating to the affairs of the parish 
of Fordoun from the earliest times to the year 

1894. Montrose : printed at the Standard office. 
1894. (7I X 4I in. Pp. [2] -I- 108 -f- [2], with folding 
map.) 

1894. The Milnes of Banff and neighbourhood: 
being a paper read to the Banffshire Field Club 
on 8th December, 1893. [Motto.] Banff: printed 
at the Banffshire Journal office. 1894. (6 J x 4 
in. Pp. 20. and coloured cover with title.) 

1894. The Milnes of Banff and neighbourhood. 
Second edition. 1894. (^i><4 '^^' Pp*2i+[i], 
and coloured cover with title. ) 

1894. O" Stra'finla top: a guide to Auchinblae 
and Fordoun district. Dundee : printed by John 
Leng & Co., Bank Street. 1894. (6x4} in. 
Pp. 48 (36—48 advertisements) ; three full-size 
plates included in paging.) 

1895. On Scots drink. Elgin: printed at the 
Courant and Courier office. 1895. (7X4J in. 
Pp. 42.) 

1895. The parish of Grange : Lecture delivered in 
the Parish Church of Grange. Reprinted from 
Banffshire Journal. Printed at the Banffshire 
Journal office for the author. 1895. (7x4} in. 

Pp. 34.) 

1896. The guide to Cullen. [Quotations.] Third 
edition— rewritten. Published by G. Seivwright, 
The Square, Cullen. 1896. (4JX3J in. Pp. 
72 + 44 [advertisements]. Four plates. Printed 
at the Advertiser office, Buckie. 

1896. Life in Elgin 350 years ago. Elgin : printed 
at the Courant and Courier office. 1896. (7x4^ 
in. Pp. 29 + [i].) 

1896. On Scots drink. Second edition. Elgin : 
printed at the Coitrant and Courier office. 1896. 
(7x45 in. Pp. 35 +[!].) 

[1896] The church and parish of Bellie. Reprinted 
from the Elgin Courant and Courier. Price six- 
pence. (7x4^ in. Pp. 5i+[i].) 

[1896] The church of Aberdour. Printed at the 
Fraserburgh Advertiser ofUct. (7ix4jin. Pp. 
55 + [i], and coloured cover with titl:.) 

1897. The court books of the Regality of Grant:* 
a true statement of their contents. Banff: 

Kinted at the Banffshire Journal office. 1897. 
ice four pence. (7 x 4} in. Pp. 28, and coloured 
cover with title. ) 



* Mlq>rliited ** Nairn." in S. N. 4: Q., XI., 111. 



156 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April, 1907 



1897. Extracts from the records of the Kirk Session 
of Elgin, 1584-1779, with a brief record of the 
readers, ministers, and bishops, 1567-1897. Re- 
printed trom Elgin Courant and Courier. Price 
one shilling and sixpence. Elgin : printed at the 
Courant and Courier office. 1897. (7x4^ in. 
Pp. [2]-f 3594 [2], and coloured cover with title.) 

1897. Guide to Grantown and district. With 
map of the district by Messrs. W. & A. K. 
Johnston, Edinburgh. Price three pence. Dun- 

. dee: John Leng & Co., printers and lithographers, 
Bank Street. 1897. (6^ x 4 in. Map as frontis- 
piece + pp. 48 (31 — 48 advertisements); three full- 
page plates included in paging. ) 

[1897] '^hc church of Keith. Reprinted from the 
Banffshire Herald^ Keith. Price sixpence. (7 x 4I 
in. Pp. 95 + [i]) 

1898. The church of Grange. Reprinted from the 
Banffshire Herald^ Keith. Price nine pence. 
1898. Keith : printed by John Mitchell, Mid 
Street. (7x4^ in. Pp. 141 +[i], and coloured 
cover with title.) 

1898. Municipal life in Elgin in the sixteenth 
century: bemg extracts from the burgh and 
head court book of the royal burgh of Elgin, 
1570-1585. Elgin : printed at the Courant and 
Courier office. 1898. (7X4J in. Pp. 5i+[i].) 

1898. The truth about George Wishart, the 
martyr. Montrose: printed at the Standard 
office. High Street. 1898. (7x42 in. Pp. 18.) 

1899. Old memories: a walk in the churchyard 
of Cullen. [Motto.] Reprinted from Banffshire 
Journal. Printed at the Banffshire Journal 
office for the author. 1899. (7x4^ in. Pp. 

3i+[i].) 

[1899] The church and priory of Urquhart. Re- 
printed from the Elgin Courant and Courier. 
Price one shilling. 7x4! in. Pp. 71 +[i].) 

1900. The church of Alves. Elgin : printed at the 
Courant and Courier office. 1900. (7 x 4J in. 
Pp. 118.) 

1900. The churches of the parish oi St. Andrews, 
Llanbryd. Price one shilling. Elgin : printed at 
the Courant and Courier office. 1900. (7 x 4^ 
in. Pp. 109 + [i], and coloured cover with title.) 

1900. Rothiemay house: being a paper read at a 
meeting of the Banffshire Field Club on 12th 
January, 1900. Banff: printed at the Banffshire 
Journal office. 1900. (7 x 4^ in. Pp. 32, with 
folding plate. ) 

.1901. Old Scottish land measures. Paper read 
on 28th June, 1901, at the joint meeting in Banff 
of the Northern Association of Literary and 
Scientific Societies. Banff: printed at the Ban£- 
shire Journal o^w, 1901. (7x4^ in. Pp.20.) 



1902. Exhibition of bells in the Museum, Elgin, 
from 23rd to 30th August, 1902. Elgin : Courant 
and Courier office. 1902. (7 x 4} in. Pp. 16.) 

1903. The church of Birnie. Elgin: printed at 
the Courant and Courier office. 1903. (7x4$ 
in. Pp. 38, and coloured cover with title. ) 

1903. Elgin calendar for 1904. Issued on opening 
of the Cooper Park, 19th August, 1903. Elgin : 
printed at the Courant and Courier office. 

(7I ^ 4f »"• PP' *0' ) 

1903. Extracts from the Diary of Alexander Brodie 
oi Maine (1671-1676). Elgin : printed at the 
Courant and Courier office. 1903. (7^x5 in. 
Pp. 24, and coloured cover with title. ) 

1903. The hammermen of Banff. Banff; printed 
at the Banffshire Journal office. 1903. (6 J x 4 J 
in. Pp. 14, and coloured cover with title. ) 

1903. The records of Elgin, 1234-1800. Vol I. 
Aberdeen : printed for the New Spalding Club. 
MCMiii. (10 X 7j in. Pp. [12] -I- 509 -}-[i]; 
twenty-three plates. Printed by Milne and 
Hutchison.) 

1904. The annals of Cullen, 961-1904. [Third 
edition.] Buckie: W. F. Johnston & Sons. 1904. 
(8x3iin. Pp. 108.) 

1904. Cullen in 1650: being a paper read to the 
Cullen Literary Society on 21st January, 1904. 
Banff: printed at the Banffshire Journal office. 
1904. (74 X 5 in. Pp. 16, and coloured cover 
with title.) 

1904. Memoir of the family of Kings of Newmill. 
(From the original MS. by Mr. Robert Young, 
solicitor, Elgin, of date 1862, in the possession of 
Colonel Leslie of Kininvie. Copied by W. 
Cramond, LL.D., 1894.) Elgin: printed at the 
Courant and Courier office. 1904. (7ix5 in. 
Pp. 22, and coloured cover with title. ) 

1906. Extracts from the records of the Synod of 
Moray. Price one shilling. Elgin: printed at 
the Courant and Courier office. 1906. (7X4J 
in. Pp. 220.) 

1907. [In the Press.] Extracts from the minutes 
of the Presbytery of Elgin. Reprinted from thie 
Courant and Courier. 

1907. [In the Press.] The records of Elgin. 
Vol. n. New Spalding Club. 



d^uerfes. 



832. The Word "Pony." — It seems extremely 
probable that this word (of which the earliest known 
forms are the Scotch powny, potoney, pownie) re- 
presents a hitherto undiscovered poulney, an adapta- 
tion of the Old French pouletiet, a U%\}c fosU, dyminu- 



Vol. VIII. and Series.^ SCOTTISH NOTES AN£> QUERIES 



157 



L *ii. -Ill 



ttve of poulain^ polmn^ a foal, colt, regularly formed 
on the late Latin pullanus^ itself a normal derivative 
from the classical Latin pullus (Greek llu^Xos), cog- 
nate with O. Tcut. folon-, whence our foaL Dr. 
Murray, editor of the " New English Dictionary," 
is anxious to have quotations showing the earlier 
spelling in poul- or pol- in order to make the origin 
certain. It seems most probable that the form will 
be found in Scottish documents. The earliest in- 
stance known to Dr. Murray is dated iSth June, 
1659, in the extracts from the diary attributed to 
Andrew Hay of Craignethan, and published in 
Notes and Queries, Ser. VI., VII., 61, 162, 263: — 
*' After dinner I walked to the mosse and found that 
the peats were not yet dry. I caused bring home I 
the powny and stugged him. Thereafter I did read 
a little on the litle french book against melancholy 
[" Reveile matin contre la melancholic " (ibid. 62)], 
because my spirit was sad.'* Dr. Murray will es- 
teem it a favour if quotations (with full references) 
are sent to him direct, as the article "pony" is 
already in proof. It should be addressed 78 Banbury 
Road, Oxford. Q. V. 

833. The Cummings of Culter. — On February 
24, 1907, there died Emile Victor Garreau, of 7 
Russell Road, Kensington, ** second son of Augustus 
Victor Garreau of Beaubois, Mauritius, J. P. for 
Seychelles," and grandson of "Sir Robert Stewart 
Gumming, Bart., of Culter." The baronetcy, ac- 
cording to *'G. E. C.," became dormant or extinct 
about 1793, when the third baronet died in poverty 
in Whitechapel, but it was assumed " possibly soon 
after 1793, but more probably some 80 years after- 
wards," by Robert Gumming of Airdrie. ** G. E. C." 
says that Robert Stewart Gumming (who was granted 
Gummingswood, Prince Edward's Island, for his 
services as surgeon at the siege of Copenhagen in 
1807), and who died in 1847, never assumed the 
title. What was the name of his daughter who 
married Garreau? J. M. 6. 

* 

834. Scots Episcopacy. — In 1852 there was 
published, through A. Brown & Co., a pamphlet 
(8vo, 9 pp.) entitled: *' Suggestions for practically 
Carrying Out the Principle of Lay Co-operation at 
the Synods of the Scottish Church." It is signed 
by G. J. R. Gordon, John Dunn, George Ogilvie, 
and George Grub. Was G. J. R. Gordon the laird 
of Ellon ? J. M. B. 

835. Miss Gordon, Ruby Cottage.— I am 
informed that a Miss Gordon, sister oi Admiral 
Sir Tames Alexander Gordon of the Wardhouse 
family, lived at Ruby Cottage, Silver Street, Aber- 
deen« Any information about her is welcome. 

J. M. Bulloch. 

836* ** The Standard Habbie."— Allan Ramsay, 
in his first rhjrmed epistle to Lieut. Hamilton of 
Gilbertiield, alludes to Robert Sempill's ** Elegy on 
Habbie Simson," the piper of Kilbarchsui} as it it 



was the first of that peculiar six-line Scottish stanza, 
four of which are octo-syllabic and two. quadri- 
syllabic, and calls it the *' Standard Habbie.'* This 
measure became extensively popular with nearly all 
our native bards. Fergusson wrote his most felici- 
tious verses in this jerky stanza, and Burns excelled 
in it also. Even Beattie, of '• Minstrel " fame, 
essayed a set of such Scottish verses to Ross, the 
author of '*Helenore." A Glasgow gentleman, 
residing in Ascot Vale, near Melbourne — Mr. Allan 
McNeilage — writes it tersely and freely, as many of 
his printed verses will attest. Robert Sempill, the 
author of "Standard Habbie," died about 1668, aged 
73, and his poem is conjectured to have been written 
in 1640. (See James Paterson's '* Poems of the 
Sempills of Beltrees," 1849.) His father. Sir James 
SempiU (friend of Andrew Melville), and his son, 
Francis Sempill, were also versifiers. But Sempill 
was not the first in Scotland to introduce this 
metrical standard, for I find in the verses of Alex- 
ander Scot, the "Scottish Anacreon,'* who wrote 
an address to Queen Mary Stuart in 1562, three 
pieces cast in this peculiar mould : ^' Patience in 
Love," nine verses; "Cupid's Tyranny," five verses ; 
and ** A Complaint," seven verses, one of which I 
subjoin : 

t. 

That ever I loved, alas! therefore 
Thus to be pined with pains so sore, 
An' thirled thro' ilka vein an' bore 

Without offence : 
Christ send renieid. I say no more, 

But patience. 



9> 



My query is — Was Alexander Scot the first "makar 
in our country to originate this poetical measure? 
Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

837. Drum used at Harlaw. — In the year 
1873, according to a press cutting pasted into one of 
the old Spalding Club books, the following advertise- 
ment was seen : — 

SALE OF Akoient Relic— There will be Bzposed for 
Sale, by Public Boup, within the Hall, No. 13 Adelphi 
Court, on Saturday, 5rd May, at 12 o'clock Noon, The 
Drum, lately belonging to the City Armoury, which was 
used by the Aberdouians at the Battle of Harlaw. Well 
authenticated. S[haw] R[obert] W[arrender] S[haw], 
[Auctioneer]. 

Where is the relic now, and who is the possessor ? 

Robert Murdoch. 

838. Shaws of Rothiemurchus. — Mr. A. M. 
Mackintosh, of Geddes House, Nairn, thus writes 
me on the gth January this year: — ** I cannot place 
Robert Shaw (sheriff-officer in Aberdeen), son of 
Shaw Shaw, but as you say the latter was a grand- 
son of a Shaw who had seven sons, it would appear 

not unlikely that the Shaw was either William 

Shaw, seventh and youngest son of Duncan of 
Crathinard, who died in 1726, or even Duncan of 
Crathinard himself, though perhaps Duncan would 
be a little too early in point of time. William, as 
well as his father Duncan, had seven sons, but none 
of these bore the Christian name of- Shaw." Mr, 



158 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April, 1907 



Mackintosh also mentions he has the genealogies of 
several Shaws, but the genealogies of the Rothie- 
murchus and Dalnavert branches are by no means 
clear in the 17th or i8th century. 

Robert Murdoch. 

859. Lawrence and Mackintosh Families. — 
In response to enquiry by Mr. A. M. Mackintosh, 
Geddes House, Nairn, in the Northern Chronicle a 
few years agp, some party gave the names of twenty- 
two chiklren of Alexander Mackintosh of Blervie 
(1707-1731 ) and Isabel Duff from a Lawrence sampler. 
Can any reader tell me the connection, if any, of the 
Lawrence family with Alexander Mackintosh of 
Blervie ? Also, who is the owner of the sampler ? 
A daughter of Alexander Mackintosh married Robert 
Anderson, Sheriff- Substitute of Moray. 

Robert Murdoch. 

840. HuNTLY IN Bombay. — Huntly Lodge, 
Bombay, is mentioned in the Scots Magazine for 
December, 1818, p. 587. Why was it so called? 

J. M. B. 



Hudwers* 



801. The Gordons of Carroll (2nd S., VIII., 
no.)— The intention of ** Ross-shire" is apparently 
to enliven the pages of Scottish Notes and Queries 
by introducing into the sober gravity of its queries a 
species of conundrum. Presumably his query signifies: 
In what relation did the two ladies mentioned stand 
to each other ? The answer appears to be that they 
sustained to each other the relations respectively of 
aunt and niece. It further appears that the elder 
John Gordon of Carroll was grandfather of the John 
Gordon of Carroll who was living when the news- 
paper paragraphs were penned. 

Aliquis. 

802. Mrs. Gordon op Craig (2nd S., VIII., 
no). — To speak of the contents of a book which one 
has never seen is a somewhat risky proceeding. 
There are, however, certain indications in Mr. J. M. 
Bulloch's query which seem to point clearly enough 
in one direction. The booklet referred to is perhaps 
an account of the Assuanley cup, formerly in the 
possession of Mrs. Gordon of Craig. If Mr. J. M. 
Bulloch will refer to Jervise's ** Land of the Lind- 
says," pp. 182-4, he will probably be inclined to 
adopt tnis conclusion. If, further, he will consult 
the ** Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of 
Scotland,** II., 180-4, he may even derive some 
information about Mrs. Gordon's '* Tale of Other 
Times." vS. 

803. Dr. Georoe Washington Bethune (2nd 
S., VIII., 137) was born in New York City on March 
18, 1805, and died in Florence, Italy, on April 27, 
1862. James Gammack, LL.D. 

West Hartford, Conn. 



806. The Highland Independent CoMPAMiBt. 
(and S., VIII., uo).— If by •' Highland Independent 
Companies" ««H. D. McW." means '* Highland 
Fencible Regiments," the answer to his query is 
that 1759 was the year when the earliest ot them 
originated. Browne's " History of the Highland 
Clans,". Vol. IV., pp. 368-84, contains an account 
of the various companies, with dates of their raising, 
and some particulars about each of them. 

S. 

807. Inglis Family (2nd S.,VIII.4 126).— Fairley 
is a mansion in Newhills parish ; Countesswells is a 
mansion and estate in the parish of Peterculter. I 
am unable to trace any. Inglis occupancy of either 
of these places. Perhaps the Inglis iamily may be 
descended from Robert Inglis, son of John Inglis, 
merchant burgess in Edinburgh, who, in 1643, was 
" retoured" as possessed of the lands and barony of 
Grandholme. S. 

809. Captain George Gordon, R.N., op 
GtvEenhaugh (2nd S., VIII., 126). — In the Navy 
List for 1815, the name of George Gordon appears 
as promoted to the rank of Commander. The date 
of his promotion indicates that he had probably seen 
service during the naval operations of the Napoleonic 
wars. There is no record to show that he ever 
attained the rank of full Captain. Perhaps he was 
merely called Captain out ot courtesy. Indeed, his 
rank as Commander would, in popular speech, entitle 
him to be so called. He is not to be mistaken for 
the Captain George T. Gordon %vho, about the same 
period, commanded a British expedition to the 
Potomac. t S. 

810. Sir Cusmo Gordon (2nd S., VIII., 126).— 
One feels greatly tempted to regard ''Sir Cosmo 
Gordon " as a nom de plnme^ were it not for the fact 
that, whenever the book, ** Life and Genius of I^ord 
Byron," is mentioned, there is never a hint of 
pseudonymity attached to its author. In 1824 there 
was at least one Cosmo Gordon who may have 
written the book. He was the fourth son of Alex- 
ander, Lord Rockville, of the Aberdeen family, and 
a Lord of Session. His son Cosmo, born sometime 
in the seventies of the i8th century, rose to be a 
general in the Army, and died in 1867. He was not 
entitled to be called Sir Cosmo, but an elder brother, 
Sir William Duff Gordon, who died in 1823, was a 
baronet. Possibly, through some printer's blunder, 
the baronetcy may have been credited to Cosmo 
Gordon. In all probability he was the same as the 
Lieut. -C'plonel Gordon who, in 1805, published an 
"Address to Volunteers.*' W. S. 

811. LoNGMOKE Family (2nd S., VIII., 126).— 
There was a James Longmore, a successful agri- 
culturist in Banffshire, occupying the farm of Hilton, 
who, according to " The Annals of Banff," was 
chosen to be an elder in the parish church in 1863. 
Assuming his identity with the person named in the 
query, the probabilities are that he was married, and 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



«S9 



had a family. Elders were generally chosen from 
among those who were heads of families. 

S. 

8x3. Gordon- Anderson Marriage (2nd S., 
VIIL, 126). — I would venture to suggest that the 
husband of Jane Gordon was named James Ander- 
son. He was L.R.C.S. in 1807, M.D. (of Aberdeen) 
in 1817, and ultimately became an Inspector of 
Hospitals and Fleets. S. 

814. TiNDKR Boxes in Church (2nd S., VIII., 
126). — Tinder boxes were in use in Scotland as well 
as in England, and may often enough have been 
carried in the pockets of worshippers to divine 
service. The English custom, however, to which 
Mr. Murdoch's query alludes, probably arose at a 
very early period, and carried with it in the earlier 
stages of its existence a kind of symbolic meaning. 
No such meaning, at any time, can be found in the 
Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The practice of 
using lights in churches, prevalent in the Romish 
Church, and not unknown in the Church of England, 
has always been regarded by Presbyterians as 
superstitious. Clkricus. 

815. Jardine, Rannie, Dundas (2nd S.,VIII., 
126). — The word *' Bayley" in this query is doubtless 
equivalent to the Scottish "Baillie." In all likeli- 
hood the lady belonged to some branch of the 
Lamington Baillies, who, it is said, were distantly 
related to the Jardines. There does not seem to 
have been any near relationship between the two 
families. Perhaps the relationship spoken of in the 
query may have been between Mrs. Henry Dundas 
and Dr. Jardine's wife. Dr. Jardine was married to 
a Drummond, and the Drummonds are understood 
to have been somewhat closely related to the 
Baillies. S. 

8x8. Caddell (? Calder), alias MacPhkrson 
(2nd S.,VIII.,i26).— "H. D. McW."is undoubtedly 
right in his surmise. There is no such place-name 
as '^Napherson.'* I have looked over a few 
books of place-names in order to **mak' siccar." 
" H. D. McW." may rest assured that '* Margaret 
Calder or Macpherson" is the true reading. 

S. 

8ao. ** Scoto.Britannicus " (2nd S.,VIII., 140). 
— I possess a copy of the "Scottish Biographical 
Dictionary " of 1822, but had long abandoned, as an 
insoluble problem, the attempt to determine its 
authorship. Consequently, to my great regret, I 
am unable to fulfil *'Alba*s" flattering expectation. 
At the same time, I have no hesitation in thinking 
that " Alba " himself has solved the problem. That 
Peter Brown was the compiler of the " Dictionary " 
is extremely likely — in £tict, in the light of " Alba's " 
remarks about him, it is practically certain. The 
book is not of much value, but possesses certain 
distinctive features, to which '*Alba** has called 
attention in his luminous and helpful note. I have 



tested it in a few cases, and find that the compiler 
has used the best authorities available at the time, 
but has not exhibited much original research, and 
has rrorodttced not a few statements and dates 
since discovered to be quite erroneous. Watkin*s 
** Dictionary" (from which he has borrowed largely), 
and the " General Biographical Dictionary " of 1798 
are mainly the authorities from which the work is 
compiled. Permit me to express to **Alba" my 
sense of the value of many of his discoveries, hints, 
and suggestions in the pages of 5. N. 6* Q, The 
discovery of Peter Brown is only one of many. It 
says little, however, for literary research in Scotland 
that ** Scoto-Britannicus" should have remained so 
long veiled in mystery, and that it should have been 
left to one hailing from the uttermost parts of the 
earth to discover in the end the real name of the 
writer. W. S. 

821. •*RosE Douglas" (2nd S.,VIII., 140).— 
Sarah R. Whitehead was the name of the authoress 
of " Rose Douglas.'' The full title of the book is : 
" Rose Douglas; or, Sketches of a Country Parish: 
being the Autobiography of a Scotch Minister's 
Daughter. By S. R. W. In two volumes." Lon- 
don, 1851. 8vo. W. S. 

822. Drumquhassill (2nd S.,VIII., 141). — This 
lairdship was situated in the parish of Strathblane 
in West Stirlingshire, and was part of "The 
Lennox.*' The name was not changed, but the 
proprietor, James Cunninghame of Drumquhassle, 
parted with the lands sometime between 1638 and 
1661, wheti he died. Robert, his brother, had pur- 
chased the lands of Trienbeg, or Drumbeg, from the 
laird of Gleneagles in 1616. William Cunninghame, 
his brother, succeeded in 1644, and his son, John, 
possessed also the lands of Bandalloch, or Balin- 
dalloch, before 1689. Passing over some generations, 
William Cunninghame of Bandalloch, colonel in 
the Army, sold his estate, and bought that of Bala- 
norris in the Isle of Man, having married Christian, 
daughter of John Taubman, former proprietor ojf 
Balanorris. The present representative of Cunning- 
hame of Drumquhassill is James Stewart Robertson, 
Esq., now of Edradynate, Perthshire, whose aunt 
was heiress of Balanorris. (See "The Parish of 
Strathblane," by J. G. Smith. Glasgow, 1886.) 

Edinburgh. W. MacLeod. 



" The great Strathendrick family of Cunningham 
of Drumquhassle, which in the beginning of the 
seventeenth century was on the wane," p. 241. 
" On the north bank of the Endrick [in Drymen, 
Stirlingshire] is Park of Drumquhassle, the property 
of Miss Govane," p. 270. — Extracts from " Strathen. 
drick and its Inhabitants from Early Times," by 
John Guthrie Smith, Glasgow, 1896— a work con- 
taining between forty and fifty references to the 
Cunninghams. G. W. 

Drumquhassill (or "Drumwhassel," as Hill Burton 
spells it) was in the parish of Drymen, and county 



i6o 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[April/ 1907 



of Stirling. It was formerly an estate in possession 
of the Cunninghams of Ayrshire, but all trace of 
their occupancy has now, I believe, disappeared 
from the county. The Stirlingshire Cunninghams, 
according to Douglas, were descended from Andrew, 
second son of Robert Cunningham, the gth laird of 
Kilmaurs. They seem to have been among the 
most warlike ot the family to which they belonged. 
Most of our historians mention John Cunningham 
of Drumquhassill as one of the bravest and most 
skilful soldiers of his day ; while, at a much later 
period, another of the name, also connected with 
Stirlingshire, proved himself, on one occasion, in 
single combat, more than a match for the redoubt- 
able Rob Roy. W. S. 

828. Musical Terms: '*BiMULL-CLiEFP"(2ndS., 
VIII., 141).— Dr. Forrest, Lonmay, says: — **B mol 
ifl good Dutch.^' A Dutch dictionary gives as one 
meaning.of " mol," ** a musical term meaning minor 
mode." "BimuU-Clieff " must therefore mean the key 
ol B minor. Probably the term came with the bells 
themselves to Aberdeen from Belgium. It seems an 
impossibility to get a Flemish dictionary in this 
country, else we might find that ^'mol" is both 
Dutch and Flemish. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



The cradle of the Cairnes family was in the 
parish of Mid Calder, Mid Lothian, from which 
they spread in several directions, notably through 
Ireland, whither they went at the time of the 
Ulster "plantations." Mr. Lawlor' (whose 
mother was a Cairnes) has pieced together the 
history of the name with indefatigable industry, 
and though (being but yj) ^^ will yet find much 
to add, he has made a splendid beginninij and 
produced a very useful book. 



Xfterature* 

A History of the Family of Cairnes, or Cairns, 
and its Connections. By H[enry] C[airnes] 
Lawlor. London: Elliot Stock. (Printed by R. 
Carswell & Son, Belfast.) 4to ; pp. xvi., 292 
pp., with 43 illustrations, and five genealogical 
tables. Price 21s. 

This volume is a good example of the 
industrious genealogical work that is in progress 
all round, and it is typical that it should have 
been produced by a man of 37, instead of, as in 
other days, a mere old gentleman of 7^. In 
noticing a book of this kind, it is usually the 
merest presumption in a critic to enter into a 
minute examination of its contents, for the 
compiler in nine cases out of ten is a pioneer 
and solitary authority. Moreover, one ought to 
be concerned mainly with the spirit of the 
undertaking — utterly thankless from the financial 
point of view, but bringing immense satisfaction 
to the patient builder himself. 

Mr. Lawlor's methods are modem, relying on 
research and discarding tradition. But his 
undertone of apology that the family "have no 
claim to be included among the greater noble 
families of these kingdoms" is slightly old- 
fashioned, for these so-called noble families are 
frequently the veriest mushrooms, unable to show 
anything Uke a descent of 600 years. 



Scots Soofts Of tbe Aontb. 



Blair, Matthew. The Paisley Thread Industry. 
With 130 Illustrations of Paisley, Past and Present. 
Crown 4to. Net, 68. Paisley : A. Gardner. 

Clark, Andrew (Editor). The Shirbum Ballads, 
1585- 1616. With 39 Illustrations from Black- 
Letter Copies. Demy 8vo, pp. viii.+38o. Net, 
los. 6d. Clarendon Press. 

Cowan, Samuel. The Last Days of Mary Stuart, 
and the Journal of Burgoyne, her Physician. 12 
Illustrations. 8vo. 128. 6d. 

London : Everleigh Nash. 

Macgregor, Rev. Alexander, M.A. The 

Feuds ot the Clans. 8vo. Net, 38. 6d. 

Eneas Mackay. 

Scotia: The Journal of the St. Andrew Society. 
Illustrated. Candlemas, 1907. Vol. I., No. i. 
Net, IS. Edinburgh : R. & R. Clark, Ltd, 

Scotland— Privy Council Register. Vol. VII., 1638- 
1643. (Second Series.) 15s. Wyman. 

Stevenson, Robert Louis. A Child*8 Garden 
of Verses. With Introduction by Andrew Lang, 
and a Frontispiece. Pocket Edition. Small 4to. 
Net., 2S. Longmans. 

The Old Quadrangle. Edinburgh University, 1900-05. 
By Four Graduates. Frontispiece. Large crown 
8vo., pp. 162. Cloth, 3s. net. ; Paper, 28. net 

Edinburgh : W. J. Hay. 

Urquhart, A. R., M.D. (Editor). Auld Perth: 
Being the Book of the Faire in Aid of the City 
and County Conservative Club. Large 8va 
Net., 3s. 6d. Perth: John Macgregor & Co. 



NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All commtmications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a fe^v 
days earlier. Ed. 

^""^^^^"^"^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Printed and Published at The Boaemonnb Press, Aberdeen. 
Literary cominunicationB should be addressed to the BdUott 
23 Osborne Plaoe^ Al)erdeen ; Advertisements and Bostness 
Letters to tbe PubllBhen, Farmer's Hall Lane, Aberdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL.Vin. -| "Mr. j^ 



May, 1907. 



KM0I8TERED{gf^pM.^^ 



CONTBNTS. 

Brodie, Michie, and Gauld Families lol 

Notable Men and Women of Forfarshire 162 

Bibliography of Perth JM 

MacpherBOn Letters.— V loo 

A Bibliography of Edinburgh Periodical Literature 166 

A Forgotten Tragedy in Gamrie 169 

Bibliography of worlcs on the Stewart and Stuart 

Families 171 

MiHOft Notes:— 

Sir J. Willoughby Gordon 163 

The First Gordons of Kllon— The Fife Pictures— Ex- 
tracts from Edinburgh Town Council Minutes — 164 

Laurences in Australia— John Abell 168 

QUERIXS:— 

A Rebel of 1745 171 

Captain William Gordon, Minmore— William Aikman 
—J. M. Logan— Gilbert M. Gibson- The Name 
Keiller— The Old Pretender- George Gordon, 8th 
West India Regiment— Lieut. George Gordon, 
send Highlanders— Thomas Duncan Gordon— Mr. 
Sheriff Gordon— John Moucrlef of Tippermalloch 172 
IXippie Family— The Place-Name Dean— John's Coffer 
House, Edinburgh— The Place-Name Bonington— 
The Bridge of Balgownle— Cruden, Author of the 

Concordance 173 

AHSwnts:- 

Chaplain Gordon ot Verdun— English County Antho- 
logy— Tne Words of '* Cockabendy " 173 

Gordon House, Kentish Town, London— Edith Aitken 
— <;apt. (George Gordon, R.N., of Greenhaugh— 
Longmore Family— Cardno Family— Lunan Fami- 
lies — Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire 174 

James Watson, Printer, Edinburgh— Andrew Bisset 
—Patrick Grant, Lord Blchles— Dr. Peter Grant- 
Joseph Gordon— Miss Gordon, Ruby Cottage—* 'The 
Standard Habbie" 175 

LITBKATURB 176 

SCOTS BOOKS OF THE MONTH 176 



ABERDEEN, MAY, 1Q07. 



BRODIE, MICHIE, AND GAULD 

FAMILIES. 

(2nd S., VIII., 59, 66.) 



I am much obliged to Mr. Murdoch for the 
information contained in the October number of 
your publication. Helen was a sister of 
Jonathan, merchant, Aberdeen (born 14th 
September, 1774, died 26th November, 1805), 
and daughter of George Michie, Invernochty, 
Strathdon (born 1720, died loth December, 1797), 
by his wife Katherine (Gordon (bom 1731, died 
at Aberdeen, 15th March, 1800). 

In the Strathdon Churchyard, alongside of 
the stone to the above George Michie, is one 



erected to Peter Michie (born 1705, died 2nd 
June, 1730). And next to this is a very old stone 
erected by Alexander Michie, Braesachiel, to the 
memory of his father, John Michie, who died 

1 8th January , aged 67 years (the year of his 

death is illegible). Were Peter and John related 
to George, and if so, how ; and what became of 
Alexander ? 

The following may be of interest to Mr. 
Murdoch : — 

William Brody, Belnaglack, was a witness on 
5th Februar)', 1792, to the baptism of Alexander, 
son of Alexander Michie, Taylorsneals, Glen- 
buchat. 

Mary Brodie, married James Michie, Stocket- 
head, Aberdeen. Their family consisted of 
Helen Michie (born ist September, 1765), Janet 
Michie (born 30th August, 1767), Francis 
Michie (bom 3rd September, 1769). 

William Gell, Kirktown, Strathdon, was 
witness to the baptism, on 23rd August, 1687, of 
Elspet, daughter of Francis Michie, farmer, 
Semeil, Strathdon. 

William Gauld, Nethertown, Glenbuchat, was 
witness to the baptism, on 28th October, 1797, 
of Isobel and William, twin children of William 
Michie, Sloggie, Glenbuchat. 

Gauld, Tillykerrie, Cromar, married 

Margaret (bora 4th October, 1841), daughter of 
James Michie, Mill of Rippachie, Tarland. 

David Gauld, tailor. Old Machar, was 
witness to the marriage, on 19th July, 1781, of 
Ann Michie (bom 1753, buried in Spital 
Cemetery, Old Aberdeen, on nth December, 
1 811), to Robert Ogg, wright, Aberdeen. He 
was also witness to the marriage, on 28th June, 
1787, of John Michie, tailor, Spital (born 1768, 
buried in Spital Cemetery on nth June, 1816), to 
Margaret, daughter of William Smith, wool- 
comber, Aberdeen. 

David Gald was witness to the baptism, on 5th 
November, 1766, of James, son of James Michie, 
blacksmith, Spital, Aberdeen. 

John Gall, labourer, Aberdeen, was witness to 
the marriage, on 22nd June, 1780, of May, 
daughter of George Michie, Crookmore, Alford, 
to George Duncan, dyer, Aberdeen. 

Calcutta. Chas. Michie. 



1 62 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF 

FORFARSHIRE. 

(Continued from 2nd S., VII L, 247.) 



53. Barrie, James Matthew, LL.D. : 
Noted Novelist, Playwright, etc. Born Kirrie- 
muir 9th May, i860. "I am inclined," says Dr. 
William Wallace, in the Bookman^ "to give him 
the third place among living British novelists. 
He does not possess the Shakespearian variety 
of Mr. Meredith, nor has he such a conception 
as has Mr. Hardy of the Euripidean tragedy of 
human life. But he is incomparably droller 
than either : he has more drollery than any 
novelist since Dickens, and the power of forcing 
you to laugh unexpectedly is the privilege of 
genius." " I should be inclined," he adds, *' to 
bracket Mr. Barrie with Gait (Gait at his best, 
as in *The Entail/ is the Scottish Balzac) as 
second to Scott among Scottish novelists, 
Stevenson being fourth, and Mrs. Oliphant fifth." 
Probably Dr. Wallace is right in placing Barrie 
below Meredith and Hardy in respect to the 
intellectual power displayed by these two great 
writers, but in respect to the general readable- 
ness and healthfulness of the works of the 
authors compared, I am persuaded that Barrie 
is undoubtedly superior to cither, and perhaps 
stands at the head of living English writers. 
Certainly he is the most successful of present- 
day Scottish litterateurs. He is also, I am per- 
suaded, much superior to Gait, whom I would 
place below either Stevenson or Neil Munro 
either as a stylist or creator of character. But 
a truce to such comparisons. Let me next briefly 
notice the chief works published by this remark- 
able son of Angus. After a good education 
received at Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh 
University, young Barrie chose a journalistic 
career. Here he soon made a name for himself, 
especially by his graphic sketches of the life of 
the Scottish common people, since republished 
as **Auld Licht Idylls," and '*A Window in 
Thrums." Later writings of his are, e.g., "My 
Lady Nicotine," "W^hen a Man's Single," and, 
more especially, "The Little Minister." "Tommy 
and Grisel," " Sentimental Tommy," as well as 
his monograph on his mother, entitled,"Margaret 
Ogilvy," have had a great vogue, and have 
largely enhanced his reputation. He has also 
given great attention to the drama, and is one of 
the most popular playwrights, one of his plays, 
"Peter Pan," havmg had a run of popularity 
seldom equalled. Altogether, Forfarshire may 
well be proud of a literary man whose genius is 
so unique and undeniable. 



54. Barclay, Robert : Provost of Mont- 
rose, etc. Bom and educated in that town, he 
was eldest son of Charles Edward Barclay, a 
previous Provost of his native town. A well- 
known business man, of a studious disposition^ 
but with little taste for public life. In 1868, 
however, he was induced to enter the Town 
Council, when he was at once elected Provost, 
but at the end of his term of office he retired 
into private life. To the affairs of Montrose 
Natural History and Antiquarian Society he 
devoted much time and attention, having acted 
for many years as honorary secretary. He was 
the last male representative, in the 22nd genera- 
tion, of the family of De Berkley of " Mernez 
and Mathrys," in direct descent from John De 
Berkeley, who acquired the lands of Conveth in 
Laurencekirk parish, tempore Alexander I L 

55. Barry, P.: Author. He has written on 
social questions, also has written some technical 
works on gunnery, etc. ; probably born about 
1828. He published "The Dockyards and the 
Private Shipyards of the Kingdom," 3rd edition, 
1863; "Dockyard Economy and Naval Power," 
1863; "The Dockyards, Shipyards, and Marine 
of France," 1864; "Shoeburyness and the Guns: 
a Philosophical Discourse," 1865; "Over the 
Atlantic and Great Western Railway," 1866; 
"Wealth and Poverty Considered," 1870 ; "The 
Workman's Wrongs and the Workman's Rights," 
1871. 

56. Barty, James Strachan, D.D. : "The 
Last of the Moderates." Born in the manse of 
Newtyle, 1805, he was licensed by the Presby- 
tery of Meigle, 1828, and ordained colleague 
and successor to his father in Bendochy parish 
in 1829. Created D.D. by St. Andrews Univer- 
sity in 1852, he was Moderator of the General 
Assembly in 1868. At his death, in 1875, he 
was spoken of as " the last of the Moderates," 
but he may also be called "the first of the Tariff 
Reformers," for he was the political progenitor 
of the movement recently headed by Mr. 
Chamberlain, having published in 1850 " Peter 
Plough's Letters to the Right Honourable Lord 
Kinnaird on High Farming and Free Trade," a 
Tariff Reform publication in the days when 
Protection had received its death-blow, but when 
there were still devoted adherents of the system 
who thought it certain to be restored. The 
article on Bendochy in the " New Statistical 
Account of Scotland " is by Dr. Barty, as also 
is an " Address " published in his Moderatorial 
year, 1868. A fine sepulchral monument has 
been erected to his memory, and while the 
Birmingham programme of Tariff Reform is still 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



163 



the authorised programme of the present Con- 
servative party, it may perhaps be said that, 
though Dr. Barty has long been at rest in his 
grave, his spirit keeps marching on. 

57. Baxter, David (Sir), Baronet : Manu- 
facturer and Philanthropist. Born Dundee 13th 
February, 1793, he died in 1872. A very success- 
ful business man, at his death his heritable and 
personal property amounted to ;^ 1.200,000. 
About £^opcK) was given to the Free Church of 
Scotland, with which he was connected, and 
about ;^40,ooo to found a chair of Engineering 
and endow scholarships in Edinburgh University. 

58. Baxter, Edmund : Lawyer. Born 
Dundee 1808, died 1865. "As a lawyer," says 
M r. Norrie, " he was a fluent speaker, a sound 
reasoner, and always dealt with his subject in a 
thoroughly hearty, honest way." 

59. Baxter, Edward : Manufacturer. Born 
Dundee 3rd April, 1791 ; died at Kincaldrum 
26th July, 1870. At his death, the Dundee 
Advertiser summed up his character in the 
following terms : — " He neither sought nor at- 
tained personal popularity. From the constitu- 
tion of his mind, he saw mankind only in the 
mass, and forgot that it was the power of the 
individual by which it was moved. Nevertheless, 
this constitutional insensibility to the presence 
of others, this want of sympathy with the humble 
annals of the poor, if it kept him from a place in 
their affections, was the source of that power 
which he wielded like a Hercules against the 
old provosts and old baillies of our old rotten 
burgh." He belonged to the Congregational 
Church, which benefited much by his counsels, 
if not so much by his wealth. 

60. Baxter, Francis Willoughby : 
Author. Born in Dundee in 1806, he died in 
1870. He was bred to the Law, but he became 
a general merchant. Having literary proclivities, 
he contributed to Taifs Magazine and other 
periodicals. He also edited the Dundee 
Advertiser iox some years, but settled afterwards 
in London, though he retired finally to Scotland, 
where he died. His only novel, " Percy Lockhart, 
or, the Hidden Will," appeared posthumously in 
1872. It reveals power, and seems to show 
that, had its author given himself to novel 
writing, he would have attained eminence in 
that art. 

61. Baxter, William Edward (Rt. Hon., 
M.P., P.C.). Bom 1825, son of 59, and nephew 
of 57, a native of Dundee, he was educated 



there and at Edinburgh University. He became 
a partner in his father's firm, and was very 
successful. He frequently contributed to the 
press, and from 1850 onward issued numerous 
publications. In 1853 he began to lecture in 
public on a vast variety of topics. He also 
travelled very extensively, and was a painstaking 
student of political and public questions. In 
1855 he succeeded Joseph Hume as member for 
the Montrose District of Burghs, which he 
represented for thirty years. His maiden speech 
in Parliament was made within a month of his 
election. In 1856, at the request of Lord 
Palmerston, he seconded the Address at the 
beginning of the session, but when asked to 
join the Administration, he declined to do so. 
In the Gladstone Administration of 1868, he 
accepted office as Secretary to the Admiralty, in 
187 1 was promoted to be Financial Secretary 
to the Treasury, and in 1873 was made a Privy 
Councillor. Shortly afterwards he resigned 
office owing to disapproval of the general 
management by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
and it is understood that he was offered the 
office of Postmaster-General, which he declined. 
He died at Kincaldrum in 1890. He was 
deemed one of the ablest of Scottish Parliament 
men. 

62. Baxter, John Boyd, LL.D.: Philan- 
thropist. Bom Dundee in 1796, died 1882. One 
of the munificent benefactors by whom the 
University College, Dundee, was founded. 

63. Bean, Margaret : Minor Poet. Born 
1865 at Piperton, near Brechin, where her an- 
cestors had occupied a farm (it is said) for six 
centuries. Miss. Bean was educated in Brechin 
and Edinburgh, and has been a teacher in both 
England and Scotland. She figures in Edwards's 
** Modern Scottish Poets," Vol. XV. 

Dollar. W. B. R. Wilson. 

(To he continued. j 
♦ 



Sir J. Willoughby Gordon. — Consult 
pages 96, 98, 99, 310, 3", 328, 329 o( "The 
Origin and Early History of the Royal Hospital 
at Chelsea," compiled in Her Majesty's Office of 
that institution, London. In this book mention 
is made, on page 161, that in Ranelagh Gardens 
there is a statue in bronze, erected by subscrip- 
tion in 1865, of Sir J. McGregor, Bart., Director- 
General of the Army Medical Department from 
181 5 to 1851. Major-General George Hutt was 
secretary to the Commissioners at date of publi- 
cation, April, 1872. The University Library, 
King's College, has a copy of the book on its 
shelves. ROBERT MURDOCH. 



1 64 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PERTH. 



In a recently published book entitled " Auld 
Perth," there is an article on the " Literature of 
Perth,*' with a bibliography of " local interest," 
written by Mr. A. R. Urquhart. 

The bibliography is arranged alphabetically 
under authors. Anonymous books are separately 
entered under subjects, and the books named in 
Mori son's Sale Catalogue of 1797 are lastly 
mentioned, if not otherwise identified. 

The first book noticed is the " Muses Threno- 
die," by Henry Adam son (1638). In a note to 
this book, Mr. LJrquhart says: — "Although thirty 
copies were printed by aid of the Town Council, 
there does not seem to be a copy in the Perth 
Charter Room, nor is it to be found in the 
Advocates' Library." This is quite right, but Mr. 
Urquhart might have added that there is a copy 
in the British Museum. 

Mr. D. Crawford Smith, F.S.A.(Scot.), in his 
" Historians of Perth," (page 50), tells us regard- 
ing the same book, " only one copy of the first 
edition [1638] is known to exist, and even it has 
the title page supplied. This copy was sold 
some years ago for five guineas." 

I do not know to what copy Mr. Crawford 
Smith refers. There is certainly no reason 
whatever for doubting the genuineness of the 
title page of the British Museum copy of the 
first edition of Adamson's " Muses Threnodie." 
It was acquired in 1886, but I do not think it is 
the only copy, as one, apparently perfect, was 
sold at Sotheby's for £6 2s. 6d. in 1891. 

Mr. Crawford Smith also tells us of a 
unique edition of the poem published in 1773 
(the year before James Cant's edition), but Mr. 
Urquhart has not mentioned it in his biblio- 
graphy. 

The next book which Mr. Urquhart notices is 
James Cant's edition of Adamson's " Muses 
Threnodie," 1774, and in a note we are told that 
a copy of this edition is in possession of Dr. 
Urquhart. As this is the only indication that 
the general reader gets of where Henry 
Adamson's " Muses Threnodie" may be seen, I 
would respectfully suggest to Mr. Urquhart that 
he might add a note to his notice of this book, 
informing the general reader that the poem is 
bound up with David Peacock's " Perth : its 
Annals and Archives," and also to make a note 
to his entry of David Peacock's book to indicate 
that the poem is there. I recently saw a copy 
of the works of James I., bearing the impnnt 
" Perth, 1827," but I cannot find any trace of it 
in the bibliography. 

Notwithstanding one or two errors and 
omissions, Mr. Urquhart has done a service 



to bibliography, and I trust at no distant date he 
will give us a complete bibliography of Perth, 
with an introductory study of "The men who 
have made the literature of Perth, from Robert 
Heron to R. S. Fittis, and of those who gave 
their work to the world of readers, from George 
Anderson to the printers of to-day." 

J. B. T. 



The First Gordons of Ellon.— It has 
puzzled genealogists why James Gordon, the 
second laird of Ellon (of the first family which 
held the estate) should have gone out of Scot- 
land in 1747, when he empowered his spouse, 
Elizabeth Glen, to have charge of his lands. 
May I suggest that he may have gone to America 
with his brother-in-law, James Glen, the Gover- 
nor of South Carolina.-* At any rate he seems 
to have gone there six years before, for, accord- 
ing to the Scots Magazine of July, 1741 (p. 331), 
" Mr. Gordon" was appointed secretary to Glen. 

J. M. B. 



The Fife Pictures.— Mr. John Grant, 
George IV. Bridge, Edinburgh, offered in his 
February catalogue, for half-a-guinea, the cata- 
logue of the pictures belonging to James, Earl 
Fife, grandfather of the present Duke of Fife, in 
Duff House, Delgaty Castle, Roihiemay House, 
Innes House, and Fife House, 4to., half-calf 
(rare). Privately printed, 1807. 



Extracts from Edinhurch Town Coun- 
cil Minutes.— />>ir^;;/^^rr 14, 1698: "The which 
day the Councill grants license and warrand to 
Moses Mosias, Jew, to trade and use merchand- 
ise within the good toun and privileges yrof, 
during the Councill's pleasure, And in caise the 
Jew Moses Mosias turn Christian, the Councill 
declare they will for his Incouragement admitt 
him burges gratis." On November 15, 1700, 
another Jew was granted the same permission, 
but no offer was made to him. 

January 12, 1700: The Council took into 
consideration the number of thieves and 
prostitutes in the city, and ordered that,'*coiiform 
to the custom of other places abroad, those 
common thieves and whores should be marked 
upon the nose by stricking out a piece of the 
left side of the nose with ane iron made for that 



n 



purpose. 

May 16, 1701 : The Council orders "the gtood 
touns Chamberlain to pay to Roderick Square 
four dollars for ane poem." 

Ev.\N Odd. 

I 



\ 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



165 



MACPHERSON LETTERS.— V. 
rZnd S., VII., p. 167; VIII., pp. 2, 75 y 105.) 



The subjoined letters serve to illustrate that 
the droving business — a somewhat favourite pur- 
suit amongst the minor Highland gentlemen of 
the 1 8th century — was not unattended with con- 
siderable risk. The custom seems to have been 

for the drovers to obtain cattle from various 
owners, and, having formed a drove, to start for 
the South, with a view to the disposal of the 
cattle at Falkirk, Barnet, or elsewhere. As a 
rule the drovers did not pay the owners when 
obtaining the cattle, but gave bills payable on 
some date subsequent to a particular market, so 
that when a drover was unable, as in the case 
mentioned below, to obtain even as much as the 
price he had agreed to pay for the cattle, he 
was in a somewhat unenviable position. But to 
Donald Macpherson of Crubm, when placed 
in this dilemma, an original idea seems to have 
occurred, and which it may be assumed was the 
means of relieving him from his embarrassment. 
His letter runs : — 



Also in Tammore's writing : — 

Donald Mcphersone of Crubin. Letter offering 
back the Catle he bought from me. 1731. 

The letter is also endorsed with the follo^^ing 
I note to Tammore in the writing of Francis 
Steuart of Lesmurdie : — 

Sir 

I mead open your Leter after the berar telling 
me ther was one in it to me and that he had 
Called at your house and missed you, as Likways 
he told me of the subject qch is Just the same 
with myne So that to morows night He be 
at minimore, and you may send your answer 
to him yr, and I shall cause my servant carie it 
qch you may leat me Know the Contents of 
Because Im in strait what to doe with him, 
whither to taik my owen (?) without paying Grass- 
ing or Leting him Keep ym. 

Tammore's reply to Donald Macpherson's 
letter was as follows : — 



Sir, 



Gaskenloan, s*** August 1731. 



I wrote Lesmurdy att Glass Marcat and desired 
in my Letter to acquaint you of q* might happen 
if times would not alter in ye South And by al! 
appearance they will not so soon as this Catle 
woud needs be sent South, for y« Letter end of 
y« year tho' right is not fitt for my Sort of Catle. 

Tuesday Last I Came home from falkirk qr had 
Sixty beasts oi qch number I. brought back again 
24 that Coud not be Sold to paie us y^ price of yr 
buying List although at first buying were under 
^5 £ Scots each : So that you may Judge by that 
Same q^ under yr price might such Catle as I 
brought out of your Country be sold at qn at first 
buying and near 23 £ each : And now seeing that 
your Catle are all to ye fore and in very good 
order you woud take ym back again to your plough 
this year and pay for ye grassing of ym And Again 
next it may be the'l be better occasion for you for 
I Can asure you thers a great Chance of Losing 
ten shill : should ye head in y« South So that I 
woud think when you Can be no Ix)ser that you 
woud not Oblidge me to goe South w^ ym and 
have too Sure y* Chance of Loseing Considerably. 
Being on heast I referr you to Lesmurdie's Letter 
inclosed and when you read please Seal and Send 
your answer And oblidge 

your humble Sertt. 

Don: M^^pherson 



Endorsed : — 



Robert Grantt of Tamore 
heast heast 



Sir 



Tomoir 8^»* August 1731. 



I have yours of the 5 th Just now by a Ser* of 
Lesmurdys wherein you tell me that your afraid 
that you cannot make a profitable merket of the 
Catle you bought Last Spring and theirfore desired 
Lesmurdy to make an offer to me of the parcell 
you bought of me then in your Last to him the 
time of Gles merket, it seems he did not think you 
was in earnest, for he neither wrote or spocke to 
me on the subject till now that I have your own 
Letter offering Back the Catle you bought from 
me upon my paying you for Grasing them : that 
is a sort of trade I have not yet dealt in : I never 
offered a beast back that I bought, and I presume 
If you expected or even got profit you would not 
think it fit or necessary to Communicat any part 
of it to me, nor did any man I sold to till now 
Insinuat any such proposall to me. Yet as this is 
the first time I have had occasione to sell Catle to 
you and that its possible the times doe not answer 
your expectatione, I am Content to indulge you 
so farr as to take Back the Catle I sold even tho 
I have since bought oyrs for my plough and could 
have sold the few I gave you to as good advantage 
as the price you promised, and to a mer^ that 
would not offer them back, provided you deliver 
them to me at this place safe and in good order 
without any cost or Charges to me even of Grasing 
or so much as driving them here Betwixt this date 
and the eighteenth current only, and If you doe 
not then deliver them back to me in the termes 
above, your to make your own use of them and 
pay me the price as condesended on. 

Endorsed in Tammore's writing : — 

Double of a Letter to Crubine. 1731. 

H. D. McW. 



i66 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc.) 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol. VI 1 1., p. IS J.) 
[Supplementary.] 

In 1832 the Advertiser felt the pressure of the 
times upon it. From its start it had made httle or 
no alteration in its general appearance, the only 
increase in size being from 4to to small folio. 
On Tuesday, July 3, of that year, the paper 
suddenly blossomed into 4 pp. folio of the modern 
newspaper size. Its readers had urged the incon- 
venience of its shape, and the owner said, 
'* Though we arc not fond of innovations, we can see 
no objection to gratify our readers." At the same 
time a general declaration of policy was made : 
"We shall firmly and fearlessly advocate constitu- 
tional principles." It was the time when the 
Church was entering on what became known as the 
Ten Years* Conflict. The Advertiser determined 
to support the Moderate side in the interests of 
peace and order in the Church, " seeing that now 
its very existence is assailed under the mask of 
reform." It continued an advocate of the 
Established Church to the very end. 

This change of size was probably coincident with 
the acceptance of the editorial control of the paper 
by Rev. [Dr.] Andrew Crichton. For some little 
time it had been under the direction of the 
versatile Robert Chambers — how long is unknown.* 
In 1832, however, his firm began the issue of 
their Historical Newspaper and their well-known 
yournaly and he seems then to have withdrawn. 
Years afterwards he added this sentence to his 
" Traditions of Edinburgh," in reference to the 
Advertiser. He says it "was for a long course of 
years the prominent journal on the Conservative 
side, and eminently lucrative, chiefly through its 
multitude of advertisements." Crichton, who 
made some reputation for himself in Edinburgh as 
an editor and author, did much to enhance the 
usefulness of the paper. He retired from it in 
June, 1 85 1. His place was taken by Robert W. 
Paterson, who continued in oflice till the journal 
suspended publication. 

When it required only five years to complete a 
century of existence, the Advertiser disappeared. 
Its proprietor had apparently got tired of it, 
although he had been connected with it one way 
or another for nearly all his life. The last imprint 
ran : " Edinburgh : printed and published at the 
office, No. 91 Rose St., by Claud Muirhead, and 
also published at the oflice, No. 13 South Hanover 
St., every Tuesday and Friday morning." The 
concluding number was dated Tuesday, March 
29, 1859, and the Journal was then merged in the 
Edinburgh Bventng Courant. Its last words 
were a protest : 

* Mr. A. H. Miller has given the dates 1829-32. 



"As a contemporary, the Evening Post^ has somewhat 
officiously been publishing, during the past fortnight, 
an article in which it speaks of the cessation of the 
Advertiser ' as an event which we have been expecting 
for some time '—a statement which may possibly lead 
some people to imagine that the Advertiser htui become 
an unprofitable property— we take leave to mention 
that such is not the case. The sale of the Advertiser 
has taken place for private reasons on the part of the 
proprietor, and we may add that it closes its career 
with a circulation which we have good reason to believe 
to be about double that of the Evening Post." 

The Courant received its partner with open arms, 
testifying to its ancient "respectability" and to 
" the integrity and ability with which it has 
always been conducted as well as. the courtesy and 
fidelity with which it has ever held its course." 
The incorporation took place on April i, 1859. 
Four years before its withdrawal, the circulation 
of the Advertiser was set down at 1,433 copies. 

1768. The Weekly Magazine^ or^ Edinburgh 
Amusement ^* containing the essence of all the 
Magazines, Reviews, Newspapers, etc., published 
in Great Britain. Also extracts from every work 
of merit, whether political, literary, or comical, 
being a Register of the Writings and Transactions 
of the Times. No. i, July 7, 1768. 32 pp. 8vo. 
The separate numbers contained no imprint, 
but the title page of the volume bore : Edinburgh : 
printed by and for Wal. Ruddiman, Junr., Foresters' 
Wynd, Lawn Market. The motto was : 

"Floriferi^ ut apes in sultibus omnia libunt omnia noe." 
The first volume was dedicated to Sir Lawrence 
Dundas, Bt., M.P. 

The conductor or editor was Walter Ruddiman, 
the nephew of the famous Thomas Ruddiman, 
and his journal was the first weekly magazine to 
appear in Scotland. It was meant to rival the 
Scots Magazine. The editor evidently considered 
his paper the true successor and continuation of 
his Edinburgh Magazine of 1759, for he headed 
his poetical introduction, " Resurgo," and then 
continued : 

"I, wild ere while, by emulation led, 
Fondly pursued the mazazining trade, 
Explored the paths of literary fame, 
Gave birth to genius," etc. , etc. 

— an effusion which he signed *'W. R., Junr." 
Under his management the Magazine achieved 
unusual success. When he died, June 18, 1781, 
the Caledonian Mercury said that, in conducting 
the paper, he " discovered a degree of genius and 
literary merit not inferior perhaps to any of his 
contemporaries, "t The paper itself followed hard 
upon the plan of the Scots Magazine. It 
contained light articles of the type current at 
the time, and, in addition, made a specialty 
of contributions that were judged of practical 
utility, suitable, as the publisher says, for the 



* The magazine is occasionally referredto as the Scots Weekly 
Magazine. Cf., e.g., Maidment's " Ballads." 

t"The Ruddimans in Scotland," by G. H. Johnstone, 
Edinbuiigh, 1901, gives many interesting facts about the 
literary and other activities of this well>known family. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



167 



requirements of physiciaiif virtuoso, country 
gentleman, merchant, mechanic, or farmer. The 
poetical department contained a larger number of 
pieces that are still considered of merit than was 
usual. It has been noted that both Telford, the 
engineer, and Mayne, the author of the '* Siller 
Gun," contributed rhymes to its pages, and that 
the pa{>er was a means of beginning a friendship 
between them that lasted till 1834. Its special 
feature, however, was the news section. It laid 
itself out to give a weekly summary of events, 
and everything was done to make this part as fresh 
and full as possible. 

There is a consensus of opinion that the 
appearance of Robert Fergusson's poems in the 
pages of the Magazine contributed much to its 
popularity. Dr. A. B. Grosart, that fervent 
partisan of the poet, says that, because of his 
contributions '*Ruddiman's Weekly leapt at a 
bound to a then unparalleled success. The 
successive numbers were eagerly waited and 
watched for. Coffee-rooms and clubs rang with 
talk of the successive poems. From every nook of 
broad Scotland complimentary letters and verses 
were received by the jubilant publisher."* There 
can be no doubt that Fergusson and Ruddiman 
were on exceptionally good terms. In his *' Last 
Will " the poet desires that it should be registered 
in Walter's Weekly Magazine^ and in the 
•* Codicil " he writes : 

*' To Walter Ruddiman, whose pen 
Still screened me from the Dance's den, 
I leave of phiz a picture. . . . ' 

But, perhaps, it is too much to give to Fergusson 
the whole credit for the favour with which the 
magazine was received. The editor himself had 
another explanation. Writing in the number for 
July II, 1782, he said — *' To the novelty of the 
plan, which admitted every variety of miscellaneous 
literature, with a full narrative of the public 
occurrences of the week^ may be ascribed its 
uncommon success " — the italics being his own. 
Owing to the tax on newspapers, news was dear. 
By its plan, the Magazine was a newspaper to all 
intents and purposes, and, in addition, its price 
made it easily accessible. The citizens of Edin- 
burgh and neighbourhood would have belied their 
reputation for healthy economy had they not sub- 
scribed to it rather than to the high-priced journals, 
its contemporaries. Arnot, the historian of Edin- 
burgh, after describing the contents of the 
Magazine, says — '*As this was afforded very 
cheap, the publication was very successful. Indeed 
it became so in a degree unprecedented in Scot- 
land, for in winter 1776 the number of copies sold 
amounted to 3,000 weekly." 

For some years nothing noteworthy happened, 
but by 1777 the open hostility of other publishers 
was aroused. They complained that Ruddiman' s 

* ** Life of FeiKuason," p. — , chap. 8, gives a list of Fergusson 
contributiouB to the Magaziive. In 1773 they were issued in 
separate volume form. 



paper was escaping its legal dues, and so damag- 
ing their trade by an unfair competition. They 
accordingly made a joint formal representation to 
the authorities, who took up the case, and called 
Ruddiman before the Court of Exchequer to show 
cause why he should not be punished for evading 
the Stamp Acts. The case was tried on June 16, 
1777. The editor drew some fine distinctions. 
He pleaded that the publication day of the journal 
was Thursday, on which day no post arrived in 
Edinburgh, and the Magazine^ accordingly, could 
not be a newspaper, but a pamphlet, as it had been 
registered; that no objection had been taken 
although it was now in its 9th year ; that other 
papers were in the same case, and that the Act 
had no relation to magazines. The ingenious 
defence failed, even although it was asserted that 
" the essays from time to time pubUshed in it had 
been of essential service to the manufacturers and 
improvements of the country." Ruddiman had a 
verdict recorded against him, but in view of all the 
circumstances, the judgment was not made 
retrospective. Ruddiman met the situation by 
publishing the news section under the title of 
Ruddimofi^s Weekly Mercury (see below), and 
continuing the issue of the other part under the 
old name. 

This, however, was not the last trial of strength 
which Ruddiman had with the authorities. One 
point still remained doubtful, viz., that with regard 
to the interval of publication which put a journal 
beyond the scope of the Stamp Act. All weeklies 
were considered newspapers if they published 
news. The region beyond the seven days was 
doubtful. Ruddiman, accordingly, changed his day 
of issue to Thursday, on December 30, 1779, and 
thereafter sent out his numbers every eighth day. 
At the same time he resumed '* our primary plan," 
of publishing t\vo departments — news and mis- 
cellaneous. This arrangement was continued till 
Tuesday, June 27, 1780, when the editor had to 
withdraw. He stated that 

" a fresh prosecution in Exchequer is just commenced 
against us at the suit of the Crown. To attempt a 
second opposition to such superior force would be 
vain." 

He compromised by inserting, in place of the 
** History of the Times," a monthly summary ot 
events. Publication day was fixed for Thursday. 

The volume (47) which began on December 30, 
1779, changed its name to The Edinburgh 
Magazine or Literary Amusement, '^containing the 
essence of all magazines, reviews, etc., with a 
variety of original pieces by men of literature, both 
in prose and verse. Also extracts from new 
publications of merit, on whatever subject or 
science, being an entertaining record of the 
writings and transactions of the times." In 1780 
the circulation stood at 1,400 weekly. 

The American War of Independence dealt a 
severe blow to papers which did not give up-to-date 
news ; and the Magazine felt the pressure thus 
caused. It stopped publication on July 11, 1782. 



i68 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



" This miacellaDy, circumscribed as it has baen in the 
historical department, is 111 calculated to satisfy a 
curiosity so ardent or an aniiety so natural at the 
present momentous crisis. And it is from this circum- 
stance the publishers have not of late reaped an 
adequate recompence for the expense and labour 
attending the execution of this work. It is, therefore, 
not without much (>onoeni they find it necessary to 
discontinue the publication for the present." 

The suspension continued over a year. Publica- 
tion was not resumed till July 3, 1783. The title 
was then changed to The Edinburgh Weekly 
Magazine, a name which it retained to the end. 

Soon after the new start, the Ruddiman in 
charge had another tussle with the Revenue 
officials. In the number for July 10, 1783, he 
intimated that he had intended to insert a fort- 
nightly report of news, but that he had ** received 
information from the officers of stamp duties that 
it is their fixed resolution to prosecute every 
printer who shall publish news or occurrences in 
any form whatever upon unstamped paper oflener 
than once a month." The publisher had perforce 
to submit. Towards the end of the same year, he 
tried another evasion, this time to provide weekly 
accounts of the proceedings in Parliament, but 
again the authorities threatened proceedings unless 
stamped paper was used. The editor again 
thought discretion the better part of valour, 
although he retorted that he *' knew of no Act of 
Parliament which subjects the news of a fortnight 
to a stamp duty, any more than the news of a 
month." On December 25, 1783, he adopted the 
plan of devoting every fourth number to Parlia- 
mentary intelligence. 

The Magazine appears to have disappeared 
during the course of the following year. The last 
number I have examined is that for June 10, 1784, 
but Mr. Johnstone says the end did not come till 
June 24, 1784. 



interests. As an expert judge of stock, his 
advice was much sought after. Mr Lawrence 
was the third son of the late Mr. James 
Lawrence, the builder of the Melbourne Town- 
Hall and some of the finest edifices in the city. 
He has left a widow and a family of five 
daughters and two sons. His remains will be 
interred this afternoon at the Boroondara 
Cemetery." alba. 

Melbourne, Australia. 



26 Circus Drive, 
Glasgow. 



W. J. COUPER. 



Lawrences in Australia. — I beg to 
intimate to Mr. Robert Murdoch, who appears to 
be specially interested anent the Lawrence 
family, .the death of Alexander Lawrence, a 
Banffshire cadet, on the i ith February. He was 
brought out to Australia when a mere lad, and 
worked his way up to an honourable position. 
I append a notice from the Melbourne Argus of 
1 2th February : — "The announcement to-day of 
the death of Mr. Alexander Lawrence, of 
Coliban, Redesdale, will be received with deep 
regret by a large circle of friends. A week ago 
he was stricken with apoplexy, and gradually 
sinking, death ensued on Monday evening. He 
held the position of president of the shire 
council of Metcalf, and for many years was an 
active member of several societies which aimed 
at the advancement of agricultural and pastoral 



John Abell. — This famous singer is reckoned 
to have been English from his employment in the 
Chapel Royal by command of Charles 1 1. He 
was born in 1660, and died at Cambridge in r 724. 
He first came into notice by his singing of the 
old Scottish song " Catherine Ogie," as he 
possessed an alto voice of exquisite purity. But 
this fine vocalist was an Aberdonian, and a 
product of that " Sang Schule " which gave us 
the "Aberdeen Cantus." My authority for this 
statement is that of a contemporary, Sir Samuel 
Forbes of Foveran, born 1653, died ^6th July, 
17 1 7. He wrote in 1715 "A Description of 
Aberdeenshire," which has been printed, and 
will be found in Gavin TurrefTs '*^Antiquarian 
Gleanings from .Aberdeenshire Records" (1871). 
It has this pregnant paragraph relating to 
Aberdeen : " Music here is much in vogue, and 
many citizens sing charmingly. The well-known 
Abell was a native of this place, and his kindred 
are known by the name Eball ; and it is said 
there are others as good as he." The surname 
Abel still exists in Aberdeen. I remember a 
worthy denizen in Virginia Street, James Abel, 
a baker, who was a Town Councillor. That 
John Abell should be considered English need 
not be wondered at when nowadays eminent 
Scots are classified as Englishmen. Some 
months back we had in Melbourne Mr. Andrew 
Black, of undoubted Scottish lineage, bom and 
bred in Glasgow, billed and advertised in our 
newspapers as "the famous English baritone." 
This audacious lie passed uncontradicted, and the 
" intelligent foreigner " might reasonably assume 
that Black was an Englishman when he saw it so 
deliberately intimated in the daily press. My 
friend Mr. Neil Izett pawkily remarked that it 
was in accordance with the predatory ethics of 
John Bull — always coveting, claiming, and grab- 
bing whenever he had a chance, and pithily sum- 
med up in this maxim — " What's yours is mine, 
what's mine's my own !" Mr. David Baptie, in 
a new edition of his " Musical Scotland," should 
begin it with John Abell. Alba. 

Melbourne Australia. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



169 



A FORGOTTEN TRAGEDY IN GAVIRIE. 

About 140 years ago the quiet parish of 
Garxirie in Banffshire was thrown into a state of 
great excitement when strange rumours reached 
the ears of the law as to a tragedy alleged to ' 
have been committed some ten years previously, 
and in which the widow and son of the head of 
one of the oldest and most respected families in 
the district were seriously implicated. The cir- 
cumstances have now almost entirely gone from 
memory, but they were talked of at the time over 
the whole kingdom. A pamphlet, now rarely met 
with, published in London in 1766, gives the evid- 
ence at the trial, and has the following preface : — 

" The singular circumstances of this case, the 
atrocious nature of the crime, the great distance 
of time since that crime is said to have been 
committed, together with the doubtfulness and 
uncertainty of the evidence, have excited the 
curiosity of the public, and have occasioned the 
trial's now been published." 

The facts are briefly these : — At the Circuit 
Court of Justiciary held at Aberdeen on 4th, 5th, 
and 6th September, 1766, by Lord Kaims, one 
of the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, 
Helen Watt, widow of the deceased Alexander 
Keith of Northfield, and William Keith, his 
eldest son, were charged with the murder of the 
said Alexander Keith of Northfield. The 
indictment bore that " Helen Watt, having been 
espoused many years ago by the said Alexander 
Keith of Northfield, a person considerably 
above her rank, for his second wife, and having 
brought forth several children to him, whereof 
the said William Keith is one, the said deceased 
Alexander Keith did execute a testament settling 
certain provisions upon his second wife and her 
children. That after this the said Helen Watt 
and the said William Keith became impatient 
for the death of the said deceased, Alexander 
Keith, and the said Helen Watt was heard to 
express wishes to that purpose during an 
illness under which the said deceased Alexander 
Keith laboured for some time, but the said 
Alexander Keith not being likely to die of that 
illness, the said Helen Watt his spouse, and the 
said William Keith his son, d U treacherously 
and wickedly .conspire to nuirder the said 
deceased Alexander Keith, and in pursuance of 
this their wicked intention, upon the 22nd 
November, 1756, the said deceased Alexander 
Keith, who was then in the same state of health 
he had been in for some time, having supped 
in his bed-chamber at his house of Northfield 
with the said Helen Watt and the said William 
Keith and some more of the family, and aftqr 
supper che other persons having gone out of the 
room and left the said Helen Watt and the said 



William Keith with the said deceased Alexander 
Keiih and two young children who were 
asleep in a bed, they, the said Helen Watt and 
William Keith, or one or other of them, did 
wickedly murder the said Alexander Keith by 
strangling him in his bed either with their hands 
or with some cord or rope or napkin, or in some 
other violent manner, and that the said deceased 
had been so strangled was evident from the 
marks of violence that appeared upon the body, 
a blue spot upon the breast, and a blue or 
discoloured mark quite round the neck which 
must have been occasioned by strangulation, and 
which appearance could not have proceeded 
from the effects of any natural disease 
if the said deceased had died without violence ; 
and these marks of violence being discovered 
upon the body the night deceased died, and 
also being discovered by sundry persons 
next day, who enquired what the cause of 
these marks could be, the said Helen Watt 
was anxious to conceal them, and pretended 
to account for these marks by saying that 
they had proceeded iron) laying on a blistering 
plaister or dressing of a blistering plaister 
with garters upon the said deceased Alexander 
Keith's back or neck the night he died, although 
there had been no such plaister or dressings tied 
on with garters upon the deceased that evening." 
She was also charged with hastening the funeral 
in a most indecent manner to conceal her crime. 

It was not till about ten years thereafter, viz., 
8th July, 1 766, that Helen Watt and William Keith 
were apprehended and lodged in Banff prison. 
The panels denied the libel. The procurators 
for the defence stated that Alexander Keith of 
Northfield was born about 1692 ; that about 
twenty years before his death he married Helen 
Watt, who bore to him a great number of 
children, and with whom he always lived \ cry 
happily. He had early in life contracted a h.ibit 
of excessive drinking, which gradually impaired 
his health, and being persisted in for a long 
course of years, at length ruined a constitution 
naturally lic.ilihy and strong. The physicians 
informed his wife and family that his death was 
near at hand, and a few days after he died. 

In defence, it was stated that certain marks 
on dead bodies cannot be accounted for. In this 
case, moreover, the body was not examined by a 
physician or any person of skill, but by ignorant, 
maccurate country people by whom alone they 
were said 10 have been perceived, and who now, 
only after ten years, are witnessing regarding 
them. It was also pleaded in defence that 
during these ten years most important witnesses 
for the defence had died, and that the present 
Keith of Northfield gave no information to the 



170 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



Public Prosecutor while such were alive, and has 
only now brought it after their death. It was 
also pleaded in behalf of the prisoners that the 
motives alleged were most absurd and incredible. 
Was it likely when they were informed he was 
dying that they would hasten his death by 
murder, merely for a few days or hours? Besides, 
from the terms of his settlement, it was their 
interest that he should live. Another circum- 
stance was the improbability of a youth of 
under eighteen years being guilty of the murder 
of his father; and his character both before and 
since has been irreproachable. Moreover, he 
was of all his other children the most beloved 
and favoured by his father, and no motive can 
be alleged for his committing such a crime. 

A jury having been empanelled, witnesses 
were called. 

Elspeth Bruce, aged 39, deponed that she 
was a servant at Northfield at the time ; that 
Northfield and his spouse did not live comfort- 
ably together, but were often squabbling ; that 
at one time she came butt the house, and said, 
God that he had broke his neck when he broke 
his horse's neck, and then she would not have 
got so much anger by him ; that Henrietta 
Keith came into the kitchen and told her that 
her father had taken two spoonfuls of brose to 
his supper ; that in a little time after the cry 
came that he was dead — certainly within half- 
an-hour. Northfield died on a Monday night, 
and the burial was on the Thursday following. 
The kitchen was divided from the room in which 
Northfield died by a wooden partiticm, but she 
heard no noise in the room the night Northfield 
died. In answer to a question, she stated that 
Helen Watt was the daughter of a fisherman at 
Crivie. — Wm. Taylor in Darfash, aged 40 years, 
saw his master Northfield the night he died, who 
told him he thought himself better; that, when he 
came to see him, he was sitting in the chair with 
one leg above the other and a pinch of snuff 
between his finger and thumb ; that, about a 
fortnight before he died, Helen Watt said that 
if God would not take her husband, might 
the devil take him ; and that her reason for 
saying so of her husband, as the deponent 
conjectured, was that her husband liked a dram 
too well, and was spending too much ; that he saw 
a blue mark on his master about the neck when 
he lifted the cloth off his face— it was about the 
breadth of three fingers ; that Helen Watt said 
that mark was occasioned by a string tied round 
his neck for holding on a plaister ; that the 
corpse was taken out of the house for interment 
without advertising Mr. Wilson, the minister, or 
George Keith, the eldest son, and that the corpse 
was carried about a mile and a half before these 



two gentlemen knew of it ; that some time after 
the funeral, Wm. Keith, the panel, said to his 
mother, the other panel, that if it had not been 
her four quarters his father might have been 
living ; that she would never get justice till she 
was hung up beside Wm. Waste ; and that he 
could be content to pull down her feet. — John 
Strachan, wright, aged 42, made the coffin, saw 
the mark on the neck, also a mark on the 
defunct's breast, reaching down towards the 
slot of the breast ; that the marks were of a 
blackish blue, like the neck of a fowl newly 
strangled. — Dr. Irvine, aged 53, physician, Banff, 
deponed he never saw a bluish mark or ring 
round the neck of a dead body that he could 
suspect was occasioned by any sort of disease 
without external violence. — James Gordon of 
Techmuiry, aged 70, deponed that young 
Northfield soon after his father's death wrote a 
letter to the deponent suspecting that his father 
was strangled by his wife and his son William. — 
Mr. James Wilson, aged 70, minister of Gamrie, 
deponed that young Northfield intimated to him 
at the funeral that his father had not got justice 
in his death; that the burial was on the Thursday 
after his death ; that he and Northfield were in 
an upper room, and on going to the window 
observed the corpse was gone ; that both were 
much surprised, but followed after as fast as they 
could, young Northfield on foot and the deponent 
on horseback, (At this stage, one of the jury, Wm. 
Forbes of Skellater, went out of the Court and 
was seen on the street going towards the New 
Inn, and the agent for the defence insisted the 
trial could not proceed ; but as no witness was 
being examined at the time, the objection was 
overruled.)— John iMair in Newton of Northfield, 
aged 58, deponed that young Northfield wished 
the burial to be on Saturday, and Helen Watt 
wished Thursday, which latter accordingly was 
done. — James Boath, tailor in Banff, aged 50, 
deponed that the two panels quarrelled in his 
house several years after Northfield's death ; 
that the mother said to the son, "Sir," or "William, 
I know as much of you as would get you hanged.*' 
— Janet Watt, in Covie, aged 23, deponed that 
after a quarrel between Wm. Keith and his 
mother about milking the cows, he said that his 
mother was a liar, a thief, and a murderer. — 
Isabel Robertson, in Drochash, aged 21, deponed 
that Wm. Keith lay in the same bed in which his 
father died, and was so frighted with ghosts and 
apparations that he got a lad to lie in the room 
with him for a night or two, after which he went 
to another bed.— James Irvine, aged 30, deponed 
that six or seven years ago he was servant to 
Wm. Keith, who complained that he could not 
sleep in bed because he was troubled. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



171 



The declarations made by th^ accused before 
Jame5 Duff, Sheriff Clerk, were then read, which 
showed that the deceased took a very little 
supper, either of ale-berry or kale-brose, and 
soon after died ; that there had been a blistering 
plaister applied to the deceased's back, and 
after it was taken away, kale-blades were 
applied to the place where the plaister had been ; 
and in order to keep these blades in their proper 
place, they were tied on with the deceased's own 
garters, which went below the armpits, and round 
the farther side of the neck, and these kale- 
blades and garters continued in that situation 
after deceased's death until his grave linen was 
made and put upon him. — John Chap, surgeon 
in Old .Deer, aged 75, deponed he attended 
Northfield till eight days before his death, 
when he found him so ill that he thought him 
a-dying, and he desired his wife not to send for 
him again unless he grew better ; that he 
left blistering plaisters to put upon his back ; 
and that his disease was an asthma, attended 
with a high fever. 

The jury, by a plurality of voices, found 
the panels guilty, but in respect of the said 
William Keith's youth, and the presumed 
influence the said Helen Watt his mother had 
over him at the time of committing the murder, 
they also by a plurality of voices earnestly 
recommended him to the mercy of the Court. 

On 6th September Lord Kaims decerned 
and adjudged the said Helen Watt and Wm. 
Keith to be "carried from the bar back to 
the Tolbooth of Aberdeen, therein to be 
detained and to be fed upon bread and water 
only ; the said Helen Watt until Friday, the 
17th October, and the said Wm. Keith until 
Friday, the 14th November; and the said Helen 
Watt, upon the said 17th October, to be taken 
furth of the said Tolbooth to the common place 
of execution of the burgh of Aberdeen, and 
between the hours of 2 and 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon to be hanged by the neck by the 
hands of the common hangman upon a gibbet 
till she be dead, and her body thereafter to be 
delivered to Dr. David Skene, physician in 
Aberdeen, to be by him dissected and anatomised; 
and that Wm. Keith, on 14th November, be 
similarly hanged, and thereafter his body to be 
hung in chains upon a gallows on the Callow 
Hill of Aberdeen." 

The sentence, however, was not carried out, 
for •* His Majesty, upon some favourable circum- 
stances having been represented to him, was 
most graciously pleased to grant a pardon to 
both the convicts." 

William Keith died at Aberdeen, 22nd 
December, 1767. W. Cramond, LL.D. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS ON THE 
STEWART AND STUART FAMILIES. 



(Continued from 2nd S., VIII., p. II4.J 

The following additional references are gleaned 
from William Thomas Lowndes' "Bibliographer's 
Manual," published by Henry G. Bohn, York 
Street, Covent Garden, London, 1864 : — 

49. Tragical History of the Stuarts. 1697, 8vo. 

50. The Right of Succession to the Crown of Eng- 
land in the Family of Stuarts. 1723, 8vo. First 
edition. 

51. Remarks on a Book called ** The History of the 
House of Stuart." (Oldmixon's. ) 1731, 8vo. 

52. Genealogical History of the Royal Family of 
Stuart. 1755. 

53. Defence of the four illustrious Stuarts, Kings of 
Great Britain. 1758, 8vo. 

54. A View of the Evidence for proving that the 
present Earl of Galloway is the lineal Heir male 
and lawful Representative of Sir William Stuart 
of Jedworth, so frequently mentioned in History 
from the Year 1385 to the Year 1429. 1796, 410. 
This privately printed tract was drawn up by 
the Rev. E. Williams, Chaplain to the Earl of 
Galloway. 

55. Stuart Papers printed from the original in pos- 
session of Her Majesty. Edited by J. H. Glover, 
Royal Librarian. Vol. I. All published, and 
the greater part of the edition wasted. London, 
1847, 8vo. Pp. 323. Appendix, pp. 181. A 
second title was given, viz., Letters by Francis 
Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, the Chevalier 
St. George, and some adherents of the House 
of Stuart, etc. See Life of James II., by J. S. 
Clarke, D.D., p. 472. 



Aberdeen. 



RoBEHT Murdoch. 



(S^ueties. 



841. A Rebel of 1745.— Your correspondent, 
Mr. R. Murdoch, gives a list of certain men who 
fought at Culloden, and who were proscribed by the 
Government. An ancestor of mine from Kelish- 
mont, Keith, was in hiding for many months on the 
Hill of Altmore near Keith, after having taken part 
at Drumossie Muir. He was a mounted man, and 
my grandfather, George Simpson, had all his ac- 
coutrements, which included holster pistols and a 
genuine Andrea Ferrara (which were all stolen in 
my grandfather's time). A number of Government 
soldiers lived at the farm for a long time in the hope 
that they would catch their man. I wonder if this 



172 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



particular Simpson (who was an Episcopalian) was 
included in the list of "rebels'* made by the 
Government. Henry Simpson. 

842. Captain William Gordon, Minmore. — 
In the Marischal College Register, class 1831-5, 
appears the name of "Jacobus F[raser] Gordon, f. 
Gul. (dem) g2'**« legionis centurionis in Glenlivat." 
This William was the tenant of Minmore. Accord- 
ing to his tombstone at Tombae, he died in 1829, 
aged 74. The only William in the g2nd to whom 
he answers is the one who, hrom an Ensigncy in the 
133rd Foot, was appointed Lieutenant in the looth 
Regiment, July 4, 1795 {London Gazette^ p. 705). 
At that time he was a man of 41, rather a late age 
for a lieutenant. From half-pay of the 92nd, he 
qualified in terms of the Military Act to be Captain 
in the Aberdeenshire Militia, May 2, 1803 [London 
Gazette, p. 680). He seems to have rejoined the 
Gordons, for William became Lieutenant in the 
92nd, September 10, 1803 {ibid.y p. 1,174). Am I 
right in identifying him thus ? J. M. B. 

843. William Airman (2nd S., VHI., 119). — 
William Aikman, 1682-1731, portrait painter, is 
declared in seversil works of reference to be a native 
of Cairney, Aberdeenshire. This statement is made 
in such a recent and excellent book as Chambers's 
'* Biographical Dictionary." Mr. Pirie, Elgin, as- 
sures me that he was the son of William Aikman, 
advocate, of Cairney, Forfarshire. Have you any 
information on this point ? A. M. 

8^. J. M. Logan. — In the "Harp of Britain," 
a damty little song-book (384 pp. ) printed at Glasgow 
in 1839 by George Brookman & Co., there are 
seversd original songs by J. M. Logan of Glasgow, 
such as: **A Lovely Floweret Blooms by Tay," 
*'Away to the Land of the Free," "The Jewish 
Maid," etc. Anything known concerning this 
apparently forgotten song-writer ? 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 

845. Gilbert M. Gibson. — This ingenious 
gentleman was rector of the Bathgate Academy, 
and in 1845 he published at Edinburgh (A. & C. 
Black) the first five books of Eutropius's "Abridg- 
ment of Roman History," with a learned and ex- 
haustive vocabulary of 200 pages attached thereto. 
I think that he was amongst the first in our country 
to combine in his "Vocabulary" both the analytic 
and synthetic methods of tuition, and his experiment 
was extensively copied afterwards. He stated in his 
preface that "Greek and Gaelic (or Celtic) are the 
two main springs whence Latin in all its voluminous 
flow emanates, and in his appendix he satisfactorily 
proves it. He likewise alludes to some previous 
book of his, an " Etymological Geography." I 
would like to learn something of the personal history 
of this learned and classical dialectician, but at 
present to me he is simply the name of a neglected 
scholar. When was the date of his decease ? 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



846. The Name Keiller. — Can you supply me 
with the origin aud meaning of the name "Keiller" ? 
I think it 4s a Perthshire or Forfarshire name. "We 
have within seven miles of Perth a Keillor Castle, 
and Easter and Wester Keillor Farms; then, in 
Forfarshire, we have Inverkellor and Rankillor. I 
am told that it is the same as MacKellar, and also 
that it is a Celtic name for " Son of the Sup>erior," 
" Cell man," "Cellar," " Kellerman," " Seller," etc. 
There is also a local tradition that the estate of 
Keillor, near Methven, owes its name to the " fact" 
that a hermit took up his abode on these grounds. 

I 

I 847. The Old Pretender. — Dpes there appear 
in any of Fielding's works, and if so, which one, 
a supposititious journal of the reign of the Old 
Pretender ? 

848. George Gordon, 8th West India Regi- 
ment. — According to a War Office Return of 1828, 
this officer was married at Guernsey on November 
26, 1 80 1, and had a daughter, Amelia, born February 
8, 182 1. In 1828 he was living in the Cabrach. 
Who was this George ? J. M. B. 

849. Lieut. George Gordon, 92ND High- 
landers. — He married at Kingussie June 5, 1820, 
and had, according to a War Office Return of 1828 
(now at the Record Office) — 

John, born June 29, 1821. 

William Mitchell, born April 16, 1823. 

Alexander, born September 6, 1827. 

Who was this George ? J. M. B. 

850. Thomas Duncan Gordon. — This officer in 
the loth Royal Veteran Battalion, according to the ' 
War Office Return of 1828 (now at the Record 
Office), was married at Forres July 24. 1819, and 
had: — 

John, born July 25, 1820. 
George, born April 19, 1822. 
Thomas, born December 13, 1823. 
Caroline, born January 5, 1825. 
Louisa, born December 25, 1827. 

Who was this officer ? J. M. B. 

851. Mr. Sheriff Gordon. — On February 4, 
1849, " Mr. Sheriff* Gordon" presided at a meeting 
in the Music Hall, Edinburgh, when addresses were 
delivered to the pupils of the Apprentice Schools of 
Edinburgh. Was he John Thomson Gordon (son- 
in-law of Christopher North) who became Sheriff of 
Midlothian in 1848? J. M. B. 

852. John Moncrief of Tippermalloch. — Can 
any reader of S. N. &» Q. give me information re- 
garding John Moncrief of Tippermalloch ? Amongst 
other works he was the author (or compiler) of "The 
Poor Man's Physician, or, the Receits of the Famous 
John Moncrief oi Tippermalloch ; being a Choice 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



173 



Collection of Simple and Easy Remedies for most 
Distempers, very useful for all Persons, especially 
those of a poorer condition." The edition I have 
seen is the third, and is marked *' Edinburgh: printed 
for Mr. Thomas Heriot, Bookseller, in the Parlia- 
ment Closs, and sold by him and other Booksellers 



in Town, m.dcc.xxxi. 



D. R. 



853. DiPPiE Family. — Information wanted con- 
cerning ancestors of David Dippie of Etal, North- 
umberland, ensign in the Aberdeen Fencibles, 1800. 
Was this family formerly located in Berwickshire, 
and is it of Huguenot descent ? 

Borderer. 

854. The Place-Name Dean. — Is there a place 
of this name near Edinburgh, and is anything known 
of Patrick Houstoun, living at Dean in September, 
1728? H. D. McW. 

855. John's Coffer House, Edinburgh. — 
What is known of this establishment, in existence in 
1733 ? H. D. McW. 

856. The Place-Name Bonington.— Is there a 
place of this name near Edinburgh, and who was 
the person referred to by this designation in Decem- 
ber, 1739 ? H. D. McW. 

857. The Bridge of Balgownie. — Where does 
the couplet regarding the Bridge of Balgownie first 
appear in print? John Milne, LL.D. 

858. Cruden, Author of the Concordance. 
— A gentleman in England, interested in Cruden, 
wishes to know where he can find in print a story 
regarding Cruden's mother to the effect that she had 
become comatose in an illness, and, being believed 
to be dead, had been buried, but came to life again 
when some thieves, trying to remove her marriage 
ring, began to cut off the finger it was on. This is 
said to have happened before Cruden 's birth, in or 
near Aberdeen, where Cruden was born in 1701. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



145. Chaplain Gordon of Verdun.— It is 
more than five years since I asked about the identity 
of** the worthy Chaplain Gordon," as he is called 
by Captain Frederick Hoffman, R.N. (1793-1814), 
A Sailor of King George," and it is only now 



m 



(( 



I am able to answer the question. According to 
the Gentleman^s Magazine (Vol. VIII., N.S., p. 97), 
he was the Rev. William Gordon (or Gorden), and 
was a native of Islip. ** He matriculated as a Bible 
clerk at All Saints College, Oxford, in 1788, was 
afterwards a Jackson scholar and Bible clerk of 
Merton College, and graduated B.A. 1792, and 
M.A. 1795. In 1794 [Foster, in his " Index Ec- 
clesiasticus," p. 73, gives the date as November 5, 
1823] he was presented to the vicarage of Dewston, 



Oxford, by Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood," 3rd bart., 
of Kirtlington Park, Oxford (1745-1828). We find 
him as a subscriber to the '* Discourses on Several 
Occasions," by the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart., of 
Dalpholly or Invergordon. His name there appears 
as " Gorden." The Gentleman's Magazine^ which 
also spells it that way, goes on to say that he became 
tutor to Sir Henry Dashwood's son, and accompanied 
the lad to France during the short peace of 1802-3. 
In 1803 they were both detained as prisoners of war, 
and sent to Verdun. " During a period of eleven 
years' detention in France, Mr. Gorden's discretion 
and his influence with the French authorities, 
founded solely on esteem for his character, enabled 
him to render important services to many of his 
countrymen, prisoners like himself, while his talent 
for business, his readiness to oblige, his unremitting 
labour in the committee of management for the 
relief of the distressed English in France, as well as 
the manner in which he discharged his duty as a 
clergyman, won the respect and regard of all. From 
the time of his return to England up to his death 
he resided on his benefice, where he was most as- 
siduous and attentive to the wants of his parishioners. 
As a magistrate he was upright, patient, and humane, 
and as a man and member of society his tenderness 
of heart, his amiability, and unvarying benevolence 
will cause him to be long and affectionately remem- 
bered." A long list of the prisoners at Verdun is 
given as an appendix to Mr. Joseph Babington 
Macaulay's *'Life of the Earl of Stirling," a very 
curious pamphlet published at Paignton last year. 
According to this list, two other Gordons were 
among the prisoners, Henry, a naval officer, and 
William Henry Gordon, who appears in a list ot 
" professors and language masters." 

J. M. B. 

347. English County Anthology (2nd S., V., 
62, 79, 94, iio, 124, 142, 157, 174; VL, 12, 30; 
VII., 79, 174; VIII., 94). — Add — Traditional Tunes 
j A I Collection of Ballad Airs, | chiefly obtained in 
Yorkshire and the | South of Scotland ; I together 
with their appropriate words | from Broaasides and 
from Oral Tradition. | Collected and Edited with 
Illustrative Notes, by | Frank Kidson. Oxford: | 
Chas. Taphouse & Son, 3, Magdalen Street. | 1891. 
174 pp. Jas. Strafford, Music and General Printer, 
113 Briggate, Leeds. 

Songs and Ballads | of | Northern England. | col- 
lected and edited by | John Stokoe. | Harmonised 
and arranged for pianoforte by | Samuel Reay, | 
Mus. Bac. , Oxon. Newcastle-on-Tyne and London : 
Walter Scott, Ltd. | Dedicated, I By Permission, | 
To his Grace [ The Duke of Northumberland. | 
198 pp., 4to. The Walter Scott Press, Newcastle- 
on-Tyne. N.D. Robert Murdoch. 

538. The Words of '*Cockabendy " (2nd S., 
VI., 125). — Mr. E. Leigh ton Gordon may be glad 
to have the following additions to the first verse of 
this bothy ballad, which circulated in Glenbuchat, 
1850, and is still well known to this day : — 



174 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



» 



Dinna gi'e the lasees drink, 

Dinna gi'e them brandy ; 
Gi'e them sticke o' cinnamon, 

And lumps o' sngar candy. 

Chorus at the end of each verse — 

He cock, hi cock, Hi cockabendy, 

Crack 

For a gill o' brandy. 

The words amissing are not suitable for reproduc- 
tion here, hence omission. If querist possesses in- 
formation on rhymes and bothy ballads, I trust he 
will become a member of the Rymour Club, and 
enrich their transactions. As far as I am aware 
neither words nor music of this spirited bothy ballad 
have appeared in print elsewhere. 

Robert Murdoch. 

792. Gordon House, Kentish Town, London 
(2nd S., VIII., 91). — It is not known how this house 
(in Highgate Road) came to be called by the name of 
Gordon, but by a curious coincidence it is now 
occupied by an Aberdeenshire man, Dr. Adam 
Alexander, M.B., CM., son of George Alexander, 
Fyvie. He says: — **The St. Pancras Borough 
Council asked me some time ago to Bnd out about 
one Gordon who is said to have lived here, but I 
could find no trace. Lords FitzRoy and Lennox 
often appear in the deeds. The house is old, and 
the tenants used to have the privilege of hawking, 
fishing, and shooting on Parliament Hill and Fields. 

B. 

793. Edith Aitxbn (2nd S., VIII., 91, in).— 
This lady, now Mrs. Bunten, is at present living in 
Glasgow, where she teaches elocution. Her husband, 
to whom she was married when in Australia, has 
been dead several years. See an article in the 
Dundee Weekly NewSy March 30, 1907, entitled 
" Glasgow's Greatest Actress : Miss Aitken's Stirring 
Life Story. Recollections of Plays and Players." 

W. 

809. Capt. George Gordon, R.N., of Green- 
haugh (2nd S., VIII., 126). — He served as midship- 
man on board the *' Blanche " frigate, on which he 
was wrecked and taken prisoner near Ushant on the 
night of March 4, 1807. O" ^^^^ occasion about 
forty-five seamen and marines perished, one-third of 
whom through drunkenness. He was made lieuten- 
ant November 26, 1810 ; appointed to the Flagship of 
the Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth June 4, 18 11, 
and from thence promoted Commander January 9, 
1815. (John Marshall's "Roy. Nav. Biog.," IV., 
part I, p. 34I ; Naval Chronicle, Vol. XVII., p. 
319.) He was still holding the rank of Commander 
when he died 1839-40. (List of deaths ofHcially 
reported after June 30, 1840— Navy List, October, 
1840.) He is possibly the *' Capt. George Gordon," 
R.N., who married December 22, 1815, at Edinburgh, 
Miss Anne Gordon, Hanover Square {Gentleman^ s 
Magazine)^ as there was no other George Gordon in 
the Navy List at that time. 

C. O. Skelton. 



811. Longmore Family (2nd S. VIII., 126). — 
Barbara Gordon and James Longmore had a family 
of four sons and four daughters. Mr. Leith Emslie 
Longmore, farmer, Baldavie, is a son. By the way. 
Mrs. Longmore was said to belong to Cocklarachy, 
in Drumblade parish. J. Y. 

823. Cardno Family (2nd S., VIII., 141). — I 
am of opinion that Cardno is a variation of the older 
form Cardney. In the 14th century Marion (or 
Mariot) de Cardney, mistress of Robert II. of Scot- 
land, to whom she bore three sons (Crawfurd's 
'' Shire of Renfrew "), is described as the daughter 
of John de Cardney of that ilk. The estate of 
Cardnye was in Aberdeenshire, probably in or near 
the parish of Skene. Eccentric spelling or local 
pronunciation might easily transmute Cardney into 
Cardno. J. J. 

824. LuNAN Families (2nd S., VIII., 141). — 
Your correspondent can make a beginning on 
Jervise — " Epitaphs,'' I., 212-3, 375 ; ^^' Walker — 
" Life of Rev. John Skinner," 26, 120-2, and *' Life 
of Bishop John Skinner," 6, 15, 16 ; " Year Book of 
Episcopal Church in Scotland," 1904, p. 182 ; King's 
College "Roll of Alumni and Graduates"; Marischal 
College "Fasti," II. The "Diary of the Rev. 
Alexander Lunan " in the Diocesan Library at 
Brechin is very valuable and interesting. I fortun- 
ately took a full synopsis of it, and it gives a pleasant 
picture of the parson, first at BlairdafT, and then at 
Inglismaldie. It should be printed. 

James Gammack, LL. D. 
West Hartford, Conn. 



Any tradition respecting the Lunans inevitably 
carries one back to the days when Scotland was 
groaning beneath the yoke of Romish persecution. 
Walter Mill, priest of Lunan, and the last martyr 
for the faith before the Reformation, is reported, 
before his death, to have given utterance to words, 
which were interpreted in the light of a prophecy, to 
the effect that, though his body perished, the cause 
for which he died would go on and prosper. To this 
prophetic testimony, the appearance of Lunans 
studying at Aberdeen University, several of them 
with a view to becoming ministers, would, in popu- 
lar estimation, seem to furnish an adequate fulfil- 
ment. For the life and dying sayings of Walter 
Mill see Foxe's " Book of Martyrs," Howie's " Scots 
Worthies," and Scott's " Martyrs of Angus and 
Mearns." It need hardly be added that the Roman- 
ism, which our forefathers so much dreaded, is 
no longer so great a bugbear to their enlightened 
descendants. . R. Y. 

825. Anderson Families in Aberdeenshire 
(2nd S., VIII., 141}. — No genealogical chart of the 
Anderson family is known to me. The author of 
"The Scottish Nation" has a work entitled "Genea- 
logy and Surnames," which might be consulted. 
The "Retours" and the various '* Registers of 
Testaments " might also be of value. In an early 
number of S. iV. &» Q. (ist S., Vol. III.) an inquirer. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



175 



asking about Andersons in Aberdeenshire, was re- 
ferred to Colonel AUardyce, 3 Queen's Terrace, 
Aberdeen, for information. Perhaps the same source 
might still be available for '* W." 

D. B. 

826. James Watson, Printer, Edinburgh 
(2nd S., VIII., 141).— If Mr. Calder Ross has not 
already ascertained the local habitation of Watson's 
•' Memorial," he might do well to visit the Historical 
and Antiquarian Department of the Register House, 
Edinburgh, the curator of which is the Rev. John 
Anderson. There, possibly, the ** Memorial" may 
be preserved. The Department is open from 10 to 
4 o'clock. S. 

827. Andrew Bisset (and S., VIII., 141). — I 
am unable to discover any notice of the death of this 
distinguished writer. Neither the •' Dictionary of 
National Biography" nor Boase\s " Modern English 
Biography" makes mention of his name. I have 
examined an index to the obituary notices in The 
Times for 1899, 1900, and 1901, but without success. 
The "Law List'' mentioned by "Alba" seems to 
be the only chronicle (such as it is) of his decease or 
disappearance. This is all the more strange when 
one considers his eminence as a writer. The follow- 
ing facts, supplementary to " Alba's" note, may not 
be ^\'ithout interest. He studied at Aberdeen Uni- 
versity before going to Cambridge. In addition to 
the publications named by ** Alba," he also wrote 
(i) " Omitted Chapters of the History of England," 
1864, 2nd edition 1867, 2 vols.; (2) •* History of the 
Commonwealth of England," 1867, 2 vols. ; (3) 
'* History of the Struggle for Parliamentary Govern- 
ment in England," 1877, 2 vols.; (4) " Short History 
of the English Parliament," 1877, 2 vols.; (5) "Notes 
on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle," 1884. A high 
authority called him "one of the most critical oi 
modern English historical writers." Green, the 
historian, names his "History of the Commonwealth" 
as an authority for the period which it covers, and 
terms the book a "vigorous defence of the Council 
of .State." Mr. Bisset's last published work, so far 
as known to me, appeared in 1884, but even before 
that date the process of disappearance had seemingly 
begun, because, in a London Directory for 1881, I 
find the name of Walter Bisset, but no mention of 
Andrew Bisset as residing in London. 

Chappie. 

829. Patrick Grant, Lord ILlchies (2nd S., 
VIII., i42).~The "Dictionary of National Bio- 
graphy" and Anderson's " Scottish Nation " contain 
brief sketches of Lord Elchie.s. He is also alluded 
to in Ty tier's " Life of Lord Kames." So far as I 
am aware, no portrait of him is in existence. 

G. H. 

830. Dr. Peter Grant (2nd S., VIII., 142).— 
Dr. Peter Grant was, I believe, a student at Aber- 
deen University, where he graduated M.D. in 1790. 
He served in the army. J. H. 



831. Joseph Gordon (2nd S., VIII., 142).— 
Joseph Gordon, father of George W. Gordon, the 
"Jamaica Martyr," is stated to have been a native 
of Inverness-shire. He was a planter in Jamaica, 
where he resided for more than half a century. 
George W. Gordon's mother was a slave. See 
" Personal Recollections of the Hon. George W. 
Gordon, late of Jamaica," London, 1867. A recently 
issued publication, "The Book of Mackay," may 
perhaps furnish some information about the other 
Joseph Gordon inquired after in the query. 

J. F. M. 

835. Miss Gordon, Ruby Cottage (2nd S., 
VIII., 157). — The small estate of Auchnacant in the 
parish of Finzean, which was owned, along with 
Arnage, by the Sibbalds and afterwards by the 
Rickarts, came eventually, I think, to Mercers (I am 
writing from memory), one of whom, I think, married 
the Admiral Sir J. A. Gordon you refer to in 
S. N. 6* Q. of this month. A daughter of this 
couple, I thmk, married a Captain or Major West, 
whose representatives, I believe, still possess it. 

A. J. Mitchell-Gill. 

836. "The Standard Habbie " (2nd S., VIII., 
157). — I cannot answer "Alba's" question regarding 
the stanza he designates as above, but that, at an 
early period in Scottish history, a stanza of the same 
type, though in one respect distinct from it, was 
popular among the "makars" of that country, may 
be inferred from the fact that Fabyan, an English 
chronicler, quotes the following rhyme as having 
been a favourite song among the Scottish common 
people, and sung (he says) " in derision of the 
English ":— 

ilaydens of Englande, sore may ye inome 
For your lemnmns lost at Bannockysbonni, 

With hew a lowe ! 
What ! Weneth the Kinf? of England 
So soon to have won Scotland ? 

With nimbylowe ! 

" Thys songe," continues Fabyan, " was after many 
daies song in daunces in the carols of the mai lens 
and mynstrilles of Scotland, to reprofe and disd lyne 
of Englyshmen, with dyuers others whych I nuer- 
passe." I find also, in the " Harp of Renfrewsliire " 
(ist Series), Appendix No. I. (1872), a series of 
archaic verses written in this same stanza. They 
are styleil •• Tat Gestc of Schir Gormalyn and the 
Reid Woulff at the Warldis End." The date of 
this poem is not given, but the chances are that, if 
not a clever imitation, it was written some time in 
the 15th century. The first verse runs thus : — 

Lythe and linten feeriaal. 

In <yihat manere thirlit in thralls, 

Wes ane Scoots May fair, 
He ane reid Woulff, ane ngsani fendc, 
Liggand nie the warldis end ; 
Quhyll ane knicht freeni did wend 

Thilk woulfiis hert till tore. 

From the character of the language in many of the 
stanzas, I incline to think it to have been an imita- 
tion, probably the work of Motherwell. But even if 
so, taken as it should be along with Fabyan*s verse, 



m* 



m^ 



iW 



mm^mm 



176 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[May, 1907 



it seems to suggest the origin of what " Alba '' calls 
"The Standard Habbie." 
Dollar. W. B. R. W. 



'*The Gude and Godlie Ballatis," attributed to 
the three Wedderburns, and published, it is believed, 
in a crude form before 1546, were probably ante- 
cedent in time to anything produced by Alexander 
Scot. According to the most recent authorities, 
Scot, born about 1525 and died about 1584, may 
possibly have been a native of Stirling, but in 
every respect conjecture plays a conspicuous part 
in his life and literary activity. He is claimed as 
belonging to Edinburgh, and also to Forfarshire, 
out of a mischievous propensity, perhaps, to rob a 
poorly endowed county, like Stirlingshire, for the 
benefit of other more favoured localities, already 
sufficiently enriched with the "gihs from the gods." 
Scot can hardly have published much before 1560, 
and there is good reason to believe that the " Gude 
and Godlie Ballatis '' preceded even the earliest of 
his poems. One of these " Ballatis," or spiritualised 
songs, is cast in the same measure as that made 
familiar to us in the ** Elegy on Habbie Simson." 
I quote the first verse : — 

Rycht Burelie muayng in my luyude, 
For pietie sore my hart is pynde 
Quhen I remember on Christ sa kynde, 

That savit me : 
Nane culd me saif from thyne till Ynde 

Bot onlie he. 

In regard to " Alba's" query, Was Scot the first 
*' makar " of this measure in Scotland ? the answer, 
I think, must be in the negative. At the same time, 
it would be quite unsaie to contend for the original 
of such compositions being found in the *' Gude and 
Godlie Ballatis." I would venture to suggest that 
the model for all compositions of the kind may be 
found among the early Miracle Plays, which in 
former days exercised so powerful an influence on 
the religion, taste, and literary culture of the people 
of this country. W. S. 



Xiteratute. 



Preliminary and Intermediate Aritktnetic^ 
for Civil Sen^ice and other Public Examinations. 
By W. Stewart Thomson, M.A. Third edition. 
IS. 6d. net. Aberdeen : Lewis Smith & Son. 
1907. 

The author has kept in mind that his task was 
to prepare students for certain examinations. 
One thing required at all such examinations is 
expert and accurate work. There is, therefore, a 
sufficient numbtfl' of mere mechanical exercises, 
needing no cogitation before attacking them. 
Stocks and interest, not being required, are not 
treated of. • The candidates are, however, ex- 
pected to be familiar with common foreign 
weights and measures, and many exercises upon 



these are introduced. In Part I. there arc 
problems in proportional parts, percentages, 
averages, vulgar and decimal fractions, con- 
tracted methods of division, etc., which are solved 
as examples; and Part II. contains numerous 
e.xercises to be solved in the same manner. 

Evolution is seen in examination papers as 
well as in organised bodies, and the author has 
not ^iven a compilation of past papers, but has 
studied them to find the trend of the direction 
in which examiners are going, and prepared the 
student for anticipating his exammer instead 
of following him — closely, perhaps, but always 
behind him. 



Scots JBoohs of tbc /liontb. 



Balfour-Melville of Pilrl;, Barbara. The 

Balfours of Pilrig: a History for the Family. 
Crown 4to. Net, 25s. Edinburgh : Wm. Brown. 

Birch, Walter de Gray, LL.D., F.S.A. His- 
tory of Scottish Seals. Vol. II. Illustrated. 4to. 
Net, i2s. 6d. Eneas Mackay. 

Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles. Heraldry Ex- 
plained. 114 Figures in Text. 8vo. Net, is. 

T. C. & E. C. Jack. 

Matthews, John (Editor). American Armoury 
and Blue Book. [Contains several references to 
Scottish- Americans.] 8vo. Net, 20s. 
London : 

John Matthews, 93 and 94 Chancery Lane. 

Redfern, Owen. The Wisdom of Sir Walter. 
Criticisms and Opinions collected from the Waver- 
ley Novels and Lockhart's " Life of Sir Walter 
Scott." With Introduction by Rev. John Watson, 
D.D. 8vo. Net, 5s. A. & C. Black. 

Shepherd, J. H., M.A. Introduction to the 
Historyof the Church in Scotland. 8vo. 2s. 6d. 
London : 

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 

Sidgwick, Frank (Editor). Ballads and Poems 
illustrating English History. Extra foolscap 8vo. 
Pp. viii. +212. IS. 6d. 

Cambridge University Press. 

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

All communications should be accompanied by an 
identifying name and address. As publication day 
is the 25th of each month, copy should be in a few 
days earlier. Ed. 

Printed and Published at llie Rosemount Press. Aberdeen. 
Literal^ comuiuuications should be addressed to Uie JG^tfitor, 
23 Osborne Place, Aberdeen; Advertisements and Busin 
Letters to the Publishers, Fanner's Hall Lane, Aberdeen. 



SCOTTISH 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



VOL. viiL "1 vr^ J 2 

2Dd 8BRIW.J ^^^- *'^* 



June, 1907. 



ilBQIBTBBBD 



{ 



PRICE 3d. 

Fir Post 4d. 



CONTENTS. 

NOTW:— 

Mariflchal College Bdfry ^^ 

A BibUograpby of Bdinburgh Periodical Literature 179 

Bibliography of Clan Literature : with Notes 183 

Notoble Men and Women of Forfarshire 186 

Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals 188 

MmoR Notes :— 

Scottish Poets 178 

Myles Macphall — Ancient Grave — Another 

"Wicked" Bible 182 

Butler's " Lobster" SiroUe 183 

The Dorian Way 186 

Gavin Turreff : Antiquary and Author 188 

Blbliogi-aphy of Aberdeen Periodicals 189 

QCERIXS :— 

Sir Janies Livingston— Shank House, near Edin- 
burgh-Sir Alexander Kamsay— Latervandeck— 

Nineteen Years' Leases 189 

ANSWERS :— 

The Gordons of Manar— English County Anthology— 

Longmore Family 189 

Caddell, aliaa MacPherson— Cardno Family- 
Patrick Grant, Lord Elchies— The Wonl "Pony" 190 
The Cummings of Cutter— Scots Bpiscopacy— 
Miss Gordon, Suby Cottage— "The Standard 
Habbie"— Huntly In Bombay— William Aikman 191 
ITie Dean (or Den>— John's Coffee House— 
Bonnington— Cruden, Author of the Concor- 
dance 192 

Scots Books of the Month 192 



NO TICE, 



We regret that^ on account of an increased 
cost to produce^ lue are compelled to raise the 
price of SCOTTISH NOTES &- QUERIES. 
It will in future be 4d. per copy— Postage 
additional. 

ABERDEEN, fUNE, 1907. 



MARISCHAL COLLEGE BELFRY. 



Among the nun)erous interesting publications 
called forth by the Quatercentenary of Aber- 



deen University, I do not find any mention of 
the fate of the belfry which for so many years 
stood on Marischal College, and the bell which 
hung in it, and I think it may be interesting to 
note what became of the belfry after the College 
was rebuilt in 1836-40 from the designs of 
Archibald Simpson, architect. 

From the College minute book, under date 
2nd August, 1836, it appears that Mr. Alexander 
Rainnie was declared contractor for the whole 
of the new buildings for the sum of ;£2 1,420, 
and by the contract, dated 9th September, 1836, 
the old buildings were given up to the con- 
tractor, "with the exception of the glass cases 
and other movable presses and furniture, in- 
cluding shelves in and about the same, and also 
with the exception of the cupolas and frames of 
the present observatory and other fixtures there- 
in, connected in any respect with the instruments 
within the same ; and of the cupola and bell, 
inscription stones on the walls, and the chimney 
frame of the hall, all of which they specially 
reserve and retain." And on nth July, 1844, 
Mr. Rainnie grants to the Commissioners for 
rebuilding the College a discharge for the full 
payment of the contract price. 

Upon the old College, at that time demolished 
to make way for the new one, there stood above 
the clock, as shown by the engraving in Wilson's 
"Historical Account and Delineation of Aber- 
deen, 1822,'' the belfry or cupola above re- 
ferred to, although it seems to be doubtful at 
what period it was erected. In the " Handbook 
to City and University'' published in connection 
with the Quatercentenary celebrations, Septem- 
ber, 1906, Mr. Walker, the esteemed secretary 
of the University Court, at page 23 says : " Of 
the buildings" (i.e., the buildings as completed 
in 1 741) "thus altered and extended, a great part 
were still standing sixty years ago, by which time 
they had become wholly insufficient and unsuit- 
able, and were condemned. All that we possess 
now are two inscriptions, the one, *APBTH 
ATTAPKHS' (i.e., * Virtue is self-sufficient'}, 
in the vestibule, immediately under the large 
window ; the other, reproduced overleaf in fac- 
simile from a photograph, the defiant motto of 
Earl Marischal, that may also be read in the 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



vestibule, over the archway that faces the main 
entrance at the base of the Mitchell Tower," the 
motto being the well-known "Thay haif said, 
what say thay, lat hame say." The two inscrip- 
tions Mr. Walker mentions are no doubt the 
" inscription stones on the walls " named in the 
College minute above referred to. 

But Mr. Walker does not seem to be aware 
that the "inscription stones" are not the only 
part of the old buildings still extant, although 
no longer possessed by the University, for the 
belfry or cupola still stands, cracked a. little in 
one part, but nevertheless sound and capable of 
carrying a bell, were that method of summons 
not now superseded by the siren or steam 
whistle. Notwithstanding the reservation of the 



cupola and bell duly minuted, it would appear 
(hat the contractor must have got possession 
ultimately of the former, for he sold it to Messrs. 
Alex. Pine & Sons, paper manufacturers, Stoney- 
wood Works, near Bucksbum, as the following 
entry in their cash book shows : — 



1B40. 
Dec 31. ByAI. Rannie.fbr Belfry of 

Marischal College - - £iQ a a 

Messrs. Pirie were about that time adding to 
their works, and the additions were so designed 
as to show a belfry crowning the front elevation, 
and there the old belfry was once more erected, 
and still stands where it has stood for sixty-seven 
years, and as shown in the accompanying photo- 
graph taken in March of this year. 

Thus far the belfry, but there is no mention 
of the sale of the bell, and 1 have no reason to 
suppose that it was sold by the contractor along 
with the belfry, and if not, what has become 
of it? William Garden, M.A. 



•ScoiTiyH Poets (2nd S., VIII., 148).— Those 
readers of i". N. &• Q. who possess a full set 
will find in [St Series, II., •33 (November, 1888), 
an account of this interesting publication. As 
there are probably many of your readers besides 
"Alba" who are not so fortunate, I will sum- 
marise that account. "The Society of .Ancient 
Scots'' was composed of a select number of 
natives of Scotland resident in London. One 
requirement for a candidate desirous of becom- 
ing a member was that his application should 
be accompanied by an original memoir, written 
by himself, of some Scotsman eminent in arts 
or arms, letters or science, and this specimen of 
his qualifications was read before the society at 
a meeting previous to that on which the ballot 
was to be taken. The result was that the society 
had on hand a lar^e number of memoirs of 
poets, historians, philosophers, etc., which had 
been handed in since the re-establishment of 
the society in 1770, down to the time when they 
resolved to publish them in 1830. It was de- 
cided to publish the poets tirst, then the his- 
torians, philosophers, etc., but they evidently 
slopped at the poets. Arthur Sempil was ihe 
secretary of the society, and to him was intrusted 
the work of publication. My set is in six parts, 
in the original paper binding, and the account 
of the society is printed on the inside of the 
front and back cover. On the back of the 
covers is an advertisement of the " Percy Anec- 
dotes," just published by the same publisher, 
Thomas Boys, 7 Ludsate Hill. The first five 
parts are dated 1821, the sixth 182Z. 

George St. ]. Bremner, 
San Francisco, Cal. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



'79 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDINBURGH 
PERIODICAL LITERATURE (V., 20, etc.) 



(Continued from 2nd S., Vol. VIII,, p. 168.) 

[Supplementary. ] 

1774. The Edinburgh Repository, or, Fortnight's 
Magazine. No. i. Wednesday, March 2, 1774. 
Price 4d. Edinburgh : John Wotherspoon, at the 
printing house, Advocates' Close, Luckenbooths. 
The Repository vrzs a periodical on the same 
lines as the Scots Magazine, It contained general 
and literary articles, tales, and poetry. It was 
published by subscription, and proposals lor its 
appearance were sent out a month in advance, 
"gratis," as the advertisements carefully state. 
It was not the first Scottish attempt to establish a 
periodical which, by its fortnightly issue, would 
evade the newspaper tax. An earlier attempt in 
Dundee had failed, and no better fate awaited the 
Repository f for it "did not last above three months." 

1774. The Gentleman and Lady^s Weekly Maga- 
zine, No. I. Friday, January 28, 1774. 32 pp. 
8vo, double columns. Price 2}d. The weekly 
issues had no imprint. The title-page to the 
volumes, of which there were five, lx>re, '* Edin- 
burgh: printed by William Auld." The motto of 
the magazine was from Shakespeare : ** To hold, 
as 't were, the mirror up to Nature; to shew Virtue 
her own features, Scorn her own image, and the 
very age and body of Time his form and pressure." 
With the second volume, April 29, 1774, the day 
ol publication was changed to Wednesday. The 
weekly issues were bound up into four annual 
volumes. 

This weekly magazine owed its existence to the 
success of the Scots Magazine, and was meant as 
a rival to Ruddiman^s Weekly Magazine, It gave 
a good deal of space to news and essays, and 
freely opened its columns to correspondents. At 
the end of the first volume its conductor, who 
is understood to have been ** Balloon'' Tytler, 
speaks of ** the encouragement we have already 
met with." He had several times to rebuke his 
contributors for literary theft. The journal is truly 
called " a miscellany," for all was grist that came 
to its mill, and it borrowed from all sides. 

We won't regard if wit be old or new, 
But blame the false an 1 value still the true. 

Each number devoted several pages to poetry. 

The magazine did not commend itself, and it 
was dropped on March 29, 1775, Vol. 5., No. 13. 
The only indication of its suppression was the 
notice on the last page : *' End of the Filth Volume, 
and the conclusion of this work." 

1776. The Caledonian Gazetteer. No. i. Friday, 
May 31, 1776. 4 pp. folio, 3 columns to the page. 
Imprint: '* Edinburgh : printed for and by John 
Robertson, and sold at his printing house in the 



Parliament Close, where advertisements and sub- 
scriptions are taken in. Price 2^6." 

As has been already explained (S. N. dfQ., 2nd 
.S., VIII., 73), the Gazetteer arose out of the ex- 
tended enterprise of the Caledonian Mercury. The 
proprietor found that he could not overtake the 
printing of all the news, advertisements, and essays 
placed at his disposal for the latter journal. He 
required more space, but he was faced with the 
possibility of losing subscribers if he published 
oftener in the week. They might be willing to 
buy three weekly numbers, but not six. He met 
the difficulty by starting the Gazetteer. As he 
said: 

"He resolved, therefore, to publish two separate papeis, 
leaving every person to take either or both as he may 
think proper. The Caledonian Mercury, therefore, will 
continue to be published, as at present, every Monday, 
Wednesday, and Friday, and another paper, under the 
title of the Caledonian Gazetteer, will be published every 
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday." 

Care was to be exercised that the same matter 
should not be printed in both journals, but in 
general appearance the papers were hardly dis- 
^ tinguishable. At the same time the proprietor 
promised that the new journal would be merged in 
the Mercury should the sales warrant such a course 
This would turn the latter into a daily. 

The enterprise did not succeed, and RQbertson 
withdrew the Gazetteer within a month. Iri/all, 
thirteen numbers were issued, the last being diLted 
Friday, June 28, 1776. The difficulty arose from 
the dependence of the Edinburgh journals on those 
of London. No post arrived from the English 
metropolis on Thursday, and it was almost im- 
possible to procure '*copy" for a Friday issue. 
At first a compromise was attempted. The 
Gazetteer was suppressed and the Mercury sent 
out every lawful day except Thursday, but, as has 
already been shown, the Mercury reverted to its 
former style of publication within a few weeks. 

1777. Ruddiman*s Weekly Mercury. No. i. Thurs- 
day, July 3, 1777. 16 pp. 8vo, 2 cols, to page, 
price 3d. No imprint appeared on the first twelve 
issues. That on No. 13 and onwards was ** Edin- 
burgh : printed for and by Walter and Thomas 
Ruddiman, and sold by them at their printing 
office. Forester's Wynd." On December 8 ap- 
peared a supplement named Ruddiman^ s Weekly 
Mercury Extraordinary, 16 pp., same size. On 
August 20 the day of publication was changed to 
Wednesday. A cover was used, and after a few 
numbers all advertisements were confined to it. 

The circumstances out of which the Mercury 
arose have already been detailed (S. N. &* Q., 2nd 
S., VIII., 167). As was to be expected, the pub- 
lisher made the most of the proceedings that had 
been taken against him. Before the first number 
was issued, he sent out a gratis number, in which 
he gave ** a broad hint, in a short allegory, of the 
origin, progress, and issue of the prosecution 
against us.' His second number gave details of 
the case, without the allegory. No. x gloried 



i8o 



SCOTTISH NOTE AND QUERIES 



{June, 1907 



in the martyrdom to which the paper had been 
subjected. It 

"now wean the badge of slavery [i.e., the red news- 
paper stamp]. He is thus running his quarantine of 
reformation like the convicts on the Thames, but with* 
this difference, that he cannot, alas ! like them, see an i 
end of his servitude." 

The editor boasts that ** it came out in the course 
of the trial that the circulation of the Weekly 
Magazine was nearly equal to that of all the Edin- 
burgh newspapers put together." There was to 
be no alteration in the plan of the journal, even 
although the old magazine had become bifurcated. 

" We have all along made it our study to arrange the 
materials of our history in a more methodical manner 
than is commonly done. This plan we Intend still to 
pursue. We shall at the same time endeavour to make 
as Judicious a selection of probable or authentic in- 
telligence as in our power." 

The conductors continued the small size, although 
that did not give the journal *'the air of a news- 
paper," but ere long they were forced to conform 
to the usual standard. They made the London 
Chronicle their model, and on Wednesday, Decem- 
ber 31, 1777, sent out the Mercury enlarged to 
4to, 8 pp., 3 cols, to the page, the price remaining 
at 3d. The imprint was the same, although it 
was changed to " Thomas Ruddiman & Company" 
on July 31, 1782. In announcing the change to 
the larger size, the publisher says : — 

"After six months* experience, we find It [the else] 
both incommodious for [subscribers] and still more so 
for ourselves, as it has been attended with much 
trouble in the execution, and much hindrance in the 
dispatch. We have therefore transformed it Into a 
downright newspaper. . . . The Weekly Mercury 
reaches every comer of Scotland." 

How long the Mercury lasted has not been dis- 
covered. On January 2, 1782, the editor said he 
provided *' the most authentic information on 
every subject which composes the motley farrago 
of a newspaper," and issues have been seen up to 
December 18, 1782. Constable's "Catalogue" 
indicates that it was continued for a time in 1783. 
In all probability the paper did not last much 
longer. Ruddiman had died in 1781, and the 
Weekly Magazine itself disappeared during 1784. 
Arnot says that the circulation stood at from 1,800 
to 2,000 when he wrote in 1779. 

1779. The Mirror, No. i, Saturday, January 23, 
1779. Motto — Quis novus hie hospes? — Virg. 4 
pp. folio, price i^d each. Printed in large type 
on good paper, across the page. ** Edinburgh : 
Published by William Creech, by whom communi- 
cations from correspondents are received." No. 
2, Saturday, January 30, 1779 ; thereafter every 
Tuesday and Saturday, except from Saturday 
August 21, 1779 (No. 60), to Tuesday, December 
7, when publication was suspended. No. 5 was 
published on Wednesday, because the Tuesday of 
that week was kept as a national fast. The 
title page issued when the journal ended bore the 
words : — ** Tht Mirror : a Periodical Paper. 
VeluH in Specula. Edinburgh : Printed for William 
Creech^' The amount of matter in each number 



varied considerably, some numbers having the 
lines crowded together. No. i had 39 lines to the 
page, but that number was frequently exceeded. 
Press of matter often left no room for the imprint. 
Several numbers were reprinted in a' second 
edition. The original issue makes up a noble 
folio. 

The Mirror arose in the hands of a select 
coterie, all of whom were connected with the 
Scottish bar, except the editor, the well-known 
Henry Mackenzie, the " Man of Feeling." In the 
concluding number Mackenzie thus states how the 
periodical actually began : — 

"The idea of publishing a periodical paper in Edin- 
burgh took its rise in a company of gentlemen whom 
particular circumstances of connection brought fre- 
quently together. Their dlscoarse often turned upon 
subjects of manners, taste, and of 'literature. By one 
of thoee accidental resolutions of which the origin 
cannot easily be traced, it was determined to put their 
thoughts into writing, and to read them for tne enter- 
tainment of each other. Their essays assumed the 
form, and soon after someone gave Uiem the name, 
of a periodical publication : the writers of it were 
naturally associated ; and their meetings increased 
the importance, as well as the number of their pro- 
ductions. Cultivating letters in the midst of business, 
composition was to them an amusement only ; that 
amusement waa heightened by the audience which 
this society afforded : the idea of publication sumested 
itself as productive of still higher entertainment." 

It is understood that William Craig suggested the 
undertaking. 

The writer of the biographical notice of George 
Home in "Chambers's Biographical Dictionary" 
states that he had information concerning the club 
from Lord Bannatyne, its last survivor. For a 
time the club was named the '* Tabernacle," but 
afterwards adopted the designation of the ** Mirror 
Club. " It was the days of such clubs, but surely 
Edinburgh could not have produced another of 
like talent and culture. In addition to Mackenzie, 
it included several who afterwards rose to eminence 
on the bench — Lords Abercromby, Wedderburn, 
Bannatyne, CuUen, and Craig. To these were 
added as contributors to the journal Lords Hailes 
and Woodhouselee, Prof. Richardson of Glasgow, 
and David Hume, the nephew of the philosopher. 
Great secrecy was observed in all the transactions 
of the club. They frequently changed their place 
of meeting to add to the mystification. They 
gathered ** sometimes in Cleriheugh's, in Writers' 
Court ; sometimes in Somers', opposite the Guard 
House in the High Street; sometimes in Stewart's 
Oyster House in the Old Fishmarket Close, and 
fully as often perhaps in Lucky Dunbar's, a 
moderate and obscure house in an old alley leading 
betwixt Forrester's and Libberton's Wynd." * 
Equal reticence was observed as to the authorship 
of the various papers. The publisher's successor 
in business declared that even Creech himself did 
not know at the time who the authors were, t 

Lord Abercromby gives an amusing account of 
the meetings oi the club. ** I can never forget, 



tf 



* Chambers's "Biographical Dictionary," «.v. "Craig." 
t Creech's "Fugitive Pieces." 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



i8i 



he says, " the pleasure we enjoyed in meeting to 
read our papers in the club. There they were 
criticised with perfect freedom, but with the 
greatest good humour. When any of us produced 
a paper which, either from the style or manner of 
of it, or from the nature of the subject, seemed 
inadmissable, it was condemned without hesitation, 
and the author, putting it in his pocket, drank a 
bumper to its manes. We had stated meetings to 
receive the communications with which we were 
honoured, which afforded another source of 
amusement. This pleasure, however, was not 
without alloy. We were often, from particular 
circumstances, obliged to reject compositions of 
real merit ; and what perhaps was equally distress- 
ing, we were sometimes obliged to abridge or alter 
the papers which we published."* 

The object of the Mirror was succinctly stated 
in the first issue : 

" I propose in the following papers ' to bold, aa 't wero, 
the Mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own 
featcwes, vice her own image, and the very age and 
body of the time his form and preaiure ' ! . . Thia is 
a field which, however extensively and iu'lieiously 
cultivated by my predecessors, may still produce 
something new." 

The plan was indeed old, whatever may 

have been its mode of execution. The writers 

never lost sight of a didactic purpose, and were 

always pointing a moral according to the fashion 

of the time. Their efforts have been described as 

•* not very humourous, mildly facetious, politely 

moralising, with literary reviews which were 

seriously critical." As Abercromby shows, the 

editor assumed to himself the right of altering 

what he desired to print, and in No. 7 stated that 

" acceptance or refusal of an essay is no criterion of its 

menit, nor of the opinion in which it is held by the 

editor. A performance may be improper for the 

Mirror, as often on account of its rising above as of 

falling below the level of such a work, which is 

peculiarly circumscribed, not only in its subjects, but 

in the manner of treating them.' 

One or two contributions remained anonymous, 

and if these be excluded, the authors numbered 

thirteen only. Mackenzie wrote 38 essa3r8, Craig 

17, and Abercromby 11. 

"The Mirror men," as they were called, made 
the Spectator their model. Sir Walter Scott 
named its editor "the Scottish Addison," and 
there is something odd in the fact that a direct 
charge of plagiarism from Addison has been 
advanced against Mackenzie, t That the resemb- 
lance of the Mirror to the Spectator is more than 
that of mere plan seems to have been suggested 
while the Mirror itself was running. At any rate, 
Mackenzie inserted in No. 96 a letter in which he 
makes fun of such a possible accusation. He 
makes his correspondent say that her cousin had 
informed her that the first number " was copied 
from the first paper of the Spectator, and upon 
looking into both, we found them exactly the same, 
all about the author and the work from beginning 
to the end." He closes the letter with "your 



* Lounger, No. 30, August 27, 1 
\ Notes and Querieg mi S.,n. 



1785. 



very last number was to be found, every word of 
it, in Johnston's Dictionary " ! 

There can be no doubt, however, about the re- 
ception the periodical met with. The Scottish 
capital bought it and rejoiced over it. It was can- 
vassed in clubs and coffee houses. It spread into 
the country and even created a stir in London. 
Abercromby tells how he was one day in Cadell's 
London shop, when a certain noble lord asked the 
bookseller if he had any information as to the au- 
thorship of the Mirror papers. All that the shop- 
man could say was that all the literati of Scotland 
were concerned in its production,* which answer 
was probably as near the truth as was possible. 
Immediately after the appearance of the first two 
numbers, they were reproduced in the Scots 
Magazine, which added a note giving the location 
in its own pages of the introductory papers of the 
Rambler, the Tatlcr Revived, etc, and recom- 
mending its readers to compare the new with the 
old. It assured them that ** our country will not 
suffer by the comparison." Creech, the publisher, 
who ought to have known, stated that the paper 
"met with much public approbation." 

The last number. No. no, was published on 
Saturday, May 27, 1780, with the promise that 
*' some time hence will be published the Mirror in 
volumes." In the valedictory number Mackenzie 
suggests reasons for thediscontinuance — the critical 
condition of the nation, the anonymity of the 
writers, etc. Perhaps there was a certain shabbi- 
ness in the following : 

" The place of its publication was in several respects 

disadvantageous We do not easily allow a 

title to instruct or to amuse the public in our neighbour 
with whom we have been accustomed to compare our 
own abilities. Hence the fastidiousness with which in 
a place so narrow as Edinburgh, home productions are 
commonly received, which if they are grave are pro- 
nounced dull, if pathetic are called unnaturaf, if 
ludicrous are termed low." 
There is a suspicion that want of sufficient financial 
support may also have had something to do with 
the withdrawal of the paper, for when the Lounger, 
a paper of exactly the same size and style, was 
begun, each number was priced 2d. However it 
came aboiit, the Edinburgh public mourned over 
the demise. When, some time later, the whole 
periodical was reprinted in i2mo volumes, they 
were eagerly bought up. The promoters received 
such a handsome sum for the copyright when they 
disposed of it that they were able to hand £100 of 
the proceeds to the Orphan Hospital, and buy a 
hogshead of wine for their own use.t That they 
had been proud of the periodical is shown by the 
fact that they annually observed its anniversary by 
dining on the day the first number had been issued. 
Reprints soon appeared in London and Dublin, 
and before 18 13 Creech and his successor had 
published eleven editions. Since that time further 
impressions have been sent out 
26 Circus Drive, W. J. Couper. 

Glasgow. 



* Lcunger, August 27, 1785. 
t Chambers's '^Biographical 



Dictionary,*' «.v. " Mackenzie." 



l82 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



QuNE, 1907 



Myles Macphail (2nd S., III., 73).— Editor 
and publisher, conjunct with his brother WilHam, 
of the Ecclesiastical Journal bearing his name 
from 1846 to 1863. They were remarkable men, 
for in youth they made a pedestrian pilgrimage 
through Italy. Their publishing office was in 
South St. David Street, Edinburgh. They had 
previously published "The Church of Scotland 
Pulpit," consisting of' sermons and criticisms, a 
species of literary work of perennial interest 
everywhere. Becoming involved in financial 
difficulties, Myles Macphail and family emigrated 
to Melbourne in 1864. His brother William 
remained in Edinburgh till his death, in 1884. 
Myles, the elder brother, had poetic ability, for 
in 1859 he published a centenary poem, "Burns's 
Vision of the Future,'* a very superior produc- 
tion. During the seventies of last century, I 
was made aware of his existence in a singular 
manner. I was employed as a "reader" in 
Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, in a job printing- 
office, and had the task allotted me of looking 
after the correction of a number of Ferdinand 
Bailliere's publishing projects. Ferdinand 
Bailliere was of French extraction (son of 
Hippolyte Bailliere, publisher of medical works 
in London), and a very showy and bounteous 
personage. He employed literary hacks to do 
the necessary writing. The " Squatter's Direc- 
tory for Australasia" was one of his projects, 
and the compiler's name was Myles Macphail. 
I had a good deal of palaver with him while the 
book was being printed, and found him to be a 
countryman, lair-complexion, light-haired, tall, 
handsome in person, and genial in manner. I 
asked him if he was related to the Edinburgh 
publisher, and he laughed pleasantly, and replied, 
"Only his son," adding that his father was not 
far away, being then actually employed in a 
subordinate capacity in the Melbourne General 
Post-Office, a short distance up the street. He 
promised to introduce me to his father, but the 
proposal miscarried, as I left that employment 
for the Government service. I remember my 
last interview with the junior Macphail very 
distinctly, for whilst we were busy pottering 
away at the proofs of his " Directory," a tropical 
thunderstorm occurred, with a terrific downpour 
of rain, so much so, that in a short time the 
street in front was transformed into a seething, 
swirling torrent of brown water over a foot in 
depth. The roof of the printing-office was 
defective, and the rain penetrated into the case- 
room in such copious profusion that work was 
stopped. I piloted Mr. Macphail round the 
back settlements to a hostelry on higher ground, 
and there we had a long chat together. He 
died of consumption on 3rd September, 1877, 



aged 37. His father survived for about six 
years, dying at Brighton (marine suburb of 
Melbourne), on the loth October, 1883, aged 67. 
He published in 1 874 " This World and the 
Next," and contributed some striking verses to 
the Melbourne Leader y notably "The Spirit's 
Farewell to the Body," His son's death must 
have been a severe blow to the old man, for the 
junior Mac was a most lovable person. 

Melbourne, Australia. Alba. 



Ancient Grave. — A few weeks ago an 

ancient grave, probably of pre-Christian date, 

was found at Gateside, near the Brig of 

Balgownie. The sides and ends were formed of 
thin slabs set on edge, and it was covered by a 
large, flat, heavy slab of ice-transported gneiss. 
The internal length was 4 feet 3^ inches, the width 
2 feet, and the depth i foot 10 inches at one end, 
and I foot 3 inches at the other. The floor 
was red gravel, over which were dotted small, 
flat, water- worn stones. It contained fragments 
of bones and a few teeth. The largest piece of 
bone had been the shaft of a thigh-bone of a 
man, who had been strong and full- sized. The 
body must have been placed in the grave with 
the knees bent up, and perhaps the head had 
been raised. The whole of the stones forming 
the grave have been transported to Marischal 
College, and set up exactly as found. The lid 
is on its edge, beside the tomb, supported on 
brickwork. The gravel and water-worn stones 
have been laid on the floor, and on these have 
been placed a box with a glass top, containing 
the fragments of bone found in the grave. 

John Milne, LL.D. 



Another "Wicked" Bible.— My grand- 
father possessed a " Matthew Henry Bible," in 
three huge folio volumes. His custom was on 

Sunday afternoon to study the particular chapter 
and verse on which the minister had preached, 
evidently, as I thought (and still thinkX to see 
if the reverend gentleman had cribbed anything 
from Matthew Henry. One day he called me 
to him, and showed me a most extraordinary 
misprint in Philippians, 2nd chapter, 7th verse : 
" But made himself of no reputation, and took 
upon him the form of a serfenL^ " Och, laddie, 
it gart me shudder," was his comment. 

George St. J. Bremner. 
San Francisco, Cal. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



183 



BuTLRR's "Lobster" Simile (2nd S., VIII., 
136).— "Alba's" contributions to 5. ^V. &* Q, 
are always very interesting, and show that he is 
a voracious reader. If, however, he had read 
his Rabelais in the original French, he would 
not have charged the author of " Hudibras " 
with plagiarism, but, rather, he would have 
taxed the translator of Rabelais with cribb- 
ing from Butler. In the passage quoted from 
book 5, chapter 7 (not 8), the original French is 

"Au poinct du jour pareillement nous esveilla 
pour manger souppes de prime." Simply " At 
break of day," etc., not a word about lobsters. 
Motteux wrote his translation of the 4th and 5th 
books of Rabelais at least half a century after 
Butler's "Hudibras" had been printed. So, 
unless " Alba " can find the same simile used by 
any of the Elizabethan dramatists, he must in 
honour apologise to the shade of Butler. 
Many other instances could be pointed out of 
Motteux's amplification of the text of Rabelais. 
In chapter i of the same book, for the simple 
phrase " Jeusnons, de par Dieu" ("Let us fast in 
God's name"), he strings it out thus, "Since you 
are so steadfast and have us fast, let's fast as 
fast as we can, and then breakfast in the name of 
famine" — all for the sake of quibbling on the 
word "fast." Our countryman. Sir Thomas 
Urquhart, who translated the first three books 
of Rabelais, made a far better translation 
than Motteux or any one else who has tried to 
render the wit and spirit of Rabelais into 
English. Although he bad not the imaginative 
and creative power or Rabelais, he had 
something of the same miscellaneous knowledge, 
the same endless vocabulary, and the same 
" high, fantastical " use of it, and yet Sir Thomas 
had a way of his own in getting over difficulties. 
Thus, in book 2, chapter 11, he translates the 
unintelligible word " bombies " as " bum bees ! " 
J. H. Burton has a very amusing footnote on 
this in the chapter on " Hogmanay " in his 
" Ancient League with France." In the same 
book, chapter 6, Sir Thomas makes the 
Limousin speak Aberdonian. When Pantagniel 
takes him by the throat, he yells " Haw ! gwid 
maaster ! My thrapple ! the bean of my cragg 
is bruck ! for gauad's seek, lawt my lean ! " etc. 
But the funniest of all is Sir Thomas's translation 
of Panurge's English speech, in chapter 8, same 
book. Rabelais' indifferent English is here 
turned into a chaotic jumble of Scots, English, 
Latin, and Heaven knows what else. 

George St. J. Bremner. 
San Francisco, CaL 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CLAN LITERA- 
TURE: WITH NOTES. 

(Continued from ^nd S,,I., 191.) 



Bell. 

Memorial of the Clan of the Bells, more particularly 
of the Bells of Kirkconnel, and Bells of Blacket- 
house. Chief of the Name. By C. D. Bell. 
Privately printed, and only for a few friends. Svo 
pp. 48, with illustrations. Cape Town, 1864. 

This work commences with *' Copy of an old 
MS. in the library of the last Bell of Rammerscales, 
said to have been written about the year 1692. 
According to this MS. the Bells of Kirkconnel 
were of French extraction, a gentleman named 
William le Bell having come over to Scotland 
with the Earl Douglas when he returned from an 
embassy to France in 1374. " So much is certain, 
that the family settled in the great lordship of 
Annandale and sheriffdom of Dumfries in the 
South, when that barony belonged to the Bails of 
Douglas. They were vassals and retainers of the 
great house of Douglas." To the copy of this 
MS. Mr. Bell has added extensive notes relative 
to the family history, with some biographical 
notices of its more distinguished members. The 
essay, fragmentary as it is, and making no pretence 
at completeness, is nevertheless by no means 
devoid of interest or value. (From Dobell's 
Catalogue, 1906, pp. 210-21 1.) 

Brodie. 

The Diary of Brodie of Brodie, Senator of the 
College of Justice. Svo. Edinburgh : printed by 
T. Lumsden & J. Robertson, and sold by Book- 
sellers in London, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. 
Edinburgh, 1740. 

Extracts from the Diaries of Alexander Brodie of 
Brodie, and of his son, James Brodie of Brodie, 
A.D. 1652- 1685. Edited by David Laing, Signet 
Library, Edinburgh, for the Spalding Club, 1863. 
This club was inaugurated in Aberdeen, 1839. 

Lord Brodie: His Life and Times, 1617-1680. With 
Continuation to the Revolution. By George Bain, 
author of ''History of Nairnshire." Nairn: 
Telegraph Office, 1904. With photograph of 
Brodie Sculptured Stone, Brodie Castle, xviii. + 
194 pp. Demy Svo. 

Extracts from the Diary oi Alexander Brodie of 
Maine (1671-1676). Compiled by Dr. William 
Cramond, Cullen. 24 pp. Elgin, 1903. 

Brodies in Glenbucket (now Glenbuchat). A MS. 
pedigree of this branch of Brodies, who are des- 
cended (so says the late Mr. William Brodie, who 
died 17th July, 1900) from John Brodie, 3rd son 
of the Z2th laird of Brodie, by his second wife, 
Margaret, widow of Dunbar of Benagefield, is in 



1 84 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[June, 1907 



the possession of his grand-nephew, Mr. Robert 
Murdoch Lawrance, Aberdeen. He has greatly 
augmented the Brodie MS., and hopes to verify 
the descents at some future date. 

Campbell. 

The Marquis of Lome and the Clan Campbell : an 
Epitome of the Story of the House of Argyll during 
the last Six Centuries. With coloured plates of 
the new Lome and Louise tartans, and vignette 
portraits. London : James Hogg, York Street, 
Covent Garden, n.d. 

Argyle and Greenwich (John, Duke of). Life, con- 
taining an Historical and Genealogical Account 
of his Family and Ancestors. By Robert Camp- 
bell. 8vo. Portrait. 1745. 

The MacCailein Mor: a History of the Argyll Family 
from the Earliest Times. By the Rev. Hely Smith. 
Genealogical chart. 8vo. 1871. 

Campbells of Melfort, Argyleshire (Memorial History 
of). M. O. Campbell. Illustrations, with supple- 
ment. Printed for private circulation only. 8vo. 
1882- 1904. 

Castle Campbell, the Ancient Stronghold of the 
Argyll Family : a Historical Sketch. By the Rev. 
Robert Paul, F.S.A.Scot., Dollar. With three 
illustrations and two plans. Demy 8vo, 31 pp. 
Dollar: James Miller &, Alexander Mackenzie. 
1905. 

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Publications. 
Vol. VH. — Traditions of Glenurchay ; History of 
the ** Maiden," or Scottish Beheading Machine 
(Archibald, Earl of Argyll); Vol. XXHL— Duns 
and Forts of Lome, etc., illustrated; Vol. XXVHL 
— Charm Stone of Campbells of Craignish (see 
also Vol. XXIX.); Vol. XXIX.— Charm Stone of 
Campbells of Glenlyon; Vol. XXX.— Fosterage 
Bonds of Campbells of Kilberry, etc. 

Cameron. 

Memoirs of Sir Ewen Cameron of Locheill, Chief 
of Clan Cameron, with an Introductory Account 
of the History and Antiquities of that Family, and 
of the Neighbouring Clans. By John Drummond, 
Edinburgh. Maitland Club publication. Crown 
4to. 1842. 

Royal Lochaber : Historical, Genealogical, and Tra- 
ditionary. By W. Drummond Norie. Illustrated 
by many fine portraits of celebrities reproduced 
from old and rare prints, original drawings by Mr. 
Lochart Bogle, photographs, etc. Glasgow: 
Morrison Brothers. 1898. 

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Publication. 
Vol. XVI. Jottmgs in Mid-Lochaber. Illustrated. 

Clan Chattan. 

An Account of the Confederation of Clan Chattan : 

ite Kith and Kin. Glasgow, 1898. 
Proceedings at the Dinner of the Clan in 1898. 



Has an appendix, "Cluny of the '45." By 
Provost Macpherson. Inverness, 1898. 

Macpherson (Sir IE., of Invereshie). The Loyall 
Dissuasive and other Papers concerning the 
Affairs of Clan Chattan, edited from the originals 
at Cluny Castle by the Rev. A. D. Murdoch. 
Portrait and facsimile. 8vo. Scottish History 
Society, 1902. 

The Minor Septs of Clan Chattan. By Charles 
Eraser Macintosh, LL.D. Illustrated with eight 
coloured plates of clan tartans, and many 
facsimilies of ancient documents, relics, clan 
antiquities, etc. Treats of the following Septs : 
Cattanach, Clark, Crerar, Davidson, Farquharson, 
Gillespie, Gillies, Gow, Macbean or Macbain, 
Macgillivray, Mackintosh, Macphail, Macpherson, 
Macqueen, Noble, Shaw, etc. 1903. 

Clanranald. 

Vindication of the Clanranalds of Glengarry, with 
" Remarks as to the Descent of the Family. By 
John Riddell. Printed by William Aitken, 
Edinburgh. Edinburgh: W. & C. Tait, 1821. 

Moidart: or, among the Clanranald. By Charles 
Macdonald. On pages 171 -174 is part of a roll 
of men upon Clanranald, its mainland estates, 
with their arms ; made up in 1745. Oban, 1889. 

Colquhoun. 

The Chiefs of Colquhoun. By Sir William Eraser, 
2 vols. The correspondence of Sir James 
Colquhoun of the '45 is in Vol. I. , 344 et seq. ; that 
of Robert Colquhoun of Camstradden is in Vol. II., 
229-234, (ist S., v., 125). Edinburgh, 1869. 

Dewar. 

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Publication. 
Vol. XII. The St Fillan Crozier. Illustrated. 
See also Vol. XXIII. 

Douglas. 

History of the House and Race of Douglas. By 
David Hume of Godscroft. 8vo. 1820. 

History of the Family of Douglas of Tilwhilly. 
London, 1850. 

Drumlanrig Castle and the Douglases. By Dr. 
C. R. Ramage. Crown 8vo. 1876. 

The Genealogy of the Families of Douglas of 
Muldearg and Robertson of Kindeace, with their 
Descendants. Dingwall, 1895. 

History of the House of Douglas. By Sir Herbert 
Maxwell. With introduction by W. A. Lindsay, 
Windior Herald. 2 vols., 8vo. London, Free- 
mantle, 1902. 

The Heraldry of the Douglases. With Notes on all 
the Males of the Family, Descriptions of Arms, 
Plates, and Pedigrees. By G. Harvey Johnston. 
96 pp. Edinburgh and London: W. & A. K. 
Johnston, Ltd. 1907. 



i 



VOL. VIII. 2nd vSeries.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



185 



Synopsis of the Genealogy of the Douglas Family. 
London, 1754. 

Drummond. 

A Genealogical Memoir of the Most Noble and 
Ancient House of Drummond, and of several 
Branches that have sprung from it. By David 
Malcolm. Edinburgh, 1808. 

Case of Thomas Drummond of New Painshaw, 
near Houghton-le- Spring, Durham, claiming the 
Honours and Estates of the Earldom of Perth. 
8vo. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1830. 

Duff. 

Genealogical and Historical Memoirs of the Duffs, 
principally of the Family of Moldavid. Edited by 
Lauchlin D. Gordon Duff. Printed for private 
circulation. Aberdeen, 1869. 

EWEN. 

Some Records of its History. By Robert Sutherland 
Taylor MacEwen, Barrister-at-Law, Lincoln's 
Inn, and some time Recorder at Rangoon. With 
specimen of tartan as frontispiece, iv. ^-46 pp., 
8vo. Glasgow : John Mackay, 1904. 

Farquharson. 

A series of articles appeared in the Aberdeen Free 
Press from 2nd January, igo4-2nd April, 1904, 
10 instalments, by " F. S. A. Scot. '.* See also " Minor 
Septs of Clan Chattan," by C. Eraser Mackintosh. 
Glasgow, 1898 (pp 147-172). 

Forbes. 

Memoranda relating to the Family of Forbes of 
Waterton, from a MS. of the deceased John 
Forbes (born 1754, who was served heir to the 
last Thomas Forbes of Waterton in 1775), and is 
now printed solely for the use of members of the 
family. 4to, pp. 61 ; view of the house of Water- 
ton in 1770, arms of the family, and several 
sheets of genealogies. Aberdeen, 1857. 

The principal contents of this volume are as 
follows : — Catalogue of Original Papers relating to 
the Family, 1630 to 1725 ; List of Papers, from 
1725 to 1774 ; the Family of Forbes, from Lums- 
den, etc. (folding plate) ; Pedigree of Forbes of 
Waterton (folding plate) ; Tree of the Family of 
Scrymgeour (folding plate) ; Documents relating 
to the Dunkeld Family, 1702 to 1775 ; a variety of 
Miscellaneous Memoranda relating to the family 
history. (From DobelPs Catalogue, 1906, p. 57.) 

Pedigree of Forbes of Monymusk and Pitsligo. 
Compiled by Mrs. G. £. Forbes. 1881. 

The Genealogy of the House of Tulquhon. By 
J. D. 20 pp., and appendix. Aberdeen: printed at 
the ConsiituHonal Ofnce, by William Bennet, 1839. 

Genealogy of the Family of Forbes, from the 
Account of Mr. Matthew Lumsden of Tullikerne, 
written in 1580, etc. Reprinted : Inverness, 1883. 

Memorials of Forbes of Forbesfield, with Notes on 



connected Morgans, Duncans, and Fergusons. 
By Alexander Forbes. With 1 1 full-page illustra- 
tions. 4to, ix. + 134 pp. Only 150 copies printed, 
by Taylor & Henderson, The King's Printers^ 
Adelphi Press, Aberdeen, 1905. 

Forbes of Tombeg, 1687-1907, with Notes on some 
Descendants and Connections. MS. in the 
possession of Mr. Robert Murdoch Lawrance, 
Aberdeen. 

Eraser. 

A Collection of 15 tracts relating to the contest of 
the Lovat Peerage in 1729- 1730, with genea- 
logical tables, memorial for those of the surname 
of Fraser. 

History of the Erasers of Lovat, with Genealogies of 
the Principal Families of the Name, to which is 
added those of Dunballoch and Phopachy. By 
Alexander Mackenzie. Demy 8vo, 768 pp. 
Inverness, 1896. 

Memorials of the Family of Erasers. Privately 
printed for Sir William Eraser, Edinburgh, 1904. 
With portrait of Alexander Fraser, 17th Lord 
Saltoun. 22 pp. , 4to. 

Chronicle of the Erasers. The Wardlaw Manuscript 
entitled ** Polychionicon seu Policratica Tem- 
porum ; or, The True Genealogy of the Erasers," 
916-1674. By Master James Eraser. Edited 
by William Mackay. Edinburgh: printed by T. 
and A. Constable, for the Scottish Historical 
Society, 1905. [A review of this book, by Mr. J. A. 
Lovat-Fraser, appeared in the Celtic Monthly, 
Vol. XIII., p. 168.] 

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Publications. 
Vol. VII. — Documents relating to Lord Lovat ; 
Vol. XXVIII. — Armorial Medal of Eraser, 1665. 

Galbraith. 

Memoirs of the House of Hamilton connected, 
with an addition on the Clan Galbraith. 4to. 
Edinburgh, i8j8. 

Gordon. 

History of the Family of Gordon, 2 vols., by 
William Gordon of Old Aberdeen. [For 
description, see S. iV. 6* g., 2nd S.,Vol.V., p. 166.] 

House of Gordon. Vol. I., issued by New Spalding 
Club, contains history, etc., of Gordons of Aber- 
geldie and Gight, by John Malcolm Bulloch, 
M.A.; and Coclarchie, by Rev. Stephen Ree, B.D., 
Boharm. An extensive bibliography on published 
works on the great Gordon family is contained 
in this volume. 

Graham. 

Or and Sable, a book of Graemes and Grahams. 
By Louisa G. Graeme. Crown 4to. Edinburgh : 
William Brown, 1902. 

Robert Murdoch. 

(To he continued.) 



1 86 



SCOTTISH NOTES A NIX QUERIES 



[June, 1907 



The Dorian Way.— This was the name [ 
given by Marischal College students to the route 
.taken by the professor of Greek, Robert James 1 
Brown, from his house in Golden Square to the 
College. He was perhaps never altogether late 
in the morning, but always very nearly, and he 
took the shortest route, vid Union Street, Cor- 
rection Wynd, Harnett's Close, and Red Lion 
Court. He held office from 1827 to i860, retir- 
ing at the union of the Universities. His method 
of speaking was guttural, and sometimes students 
failed to make out what he said, which led to 
his getting a sobriquet indicating this peculiarity. 
Latterly it gave place to "The Dorian," which 
simply meant "The Grecian," though the 
Dorians were only one of two Greek lines. Red 
Lion Court took its name from an inn which 
probably had for a sign the Red Lion rampant, 
the personal arms of the sovereigns of Scotland, 
and this sign may have been adopted because 
the kings of Scotland had made the inn their 
residence when in Aberdeen. In the Lord 
High Treasurer's Accounts there is a note of a 
payment by James IV. to the wife with whom 
he lodged in Aberdeen. In the Aberdeen 
Journal x\\tYe\s,m 1754, an announcement by 
William Butblaw, victt kller at the Red Lion, 
fronting Marischal College gate, that he had 
removed to William Green's back house, the 
first in the thoroughfare opposite the College 
Church leading to the Guestrow, and that he 
offered good entertainment to those who might 
please to diet with him. The Red Lion Court 
was No. 77 Broad Street, which was under 
the pediment gable in the front of Henry 
(Cray's warehouse, and it had an opening also 
to the Guestrow, which was under the support 
for telephone wires in the back wall of the house. 
Iron pins in the walls showed that both openings 
had, as usual in ancient Aberdeen, been pro- 
vided with doors to be closed at ni^ht. When 
the old house which had been the mn became 
unfit for habitation, the court was shut up. 
When, however, Henry Gray took down the 
house and was proceeding to erect another 
without a passage through it, the Town Council 
exacted a payment from him for shutting up a 
public thoroughfare, though it had undoubtedly 
been originally a private entrance to the Red 
Lion Inn. Long before Professor Brown's time 
the Red Lion Inn had been shifted from Broad 
Street to the north side of West North Street, 
where there was a public-house. No. 8, called 
the Red Lion till after the middle of the last 
century. The landlord's wife was one of those 
killed in a railway accident at Kittybrewster at 
the opening of the Great North of Scotland 
Railway. JOHN MiLNE. 



NOTABLK MEN AND WOMEN OF 

FORFARSHIRE. 

(Continued from 2ud S., VIII., 103,) 



63. Alexander, Rev. Thomas: Presby- 
terian Minister. Bom at Fowlis, near Dundee, 
1817 ; apprenticed as an ironmonger in Dundee; 
subsequently made several voyages to sea ; 
afterwards taught a school at Invergowrie, and 
subsequently entered the ministry of the Free 
Church of Scotland. He was for some time 
assistant to the Rev. Dr. Candlish ; was ap- 
pointed to the Presbyterian Church in Chelsea, 
and a few years before his death was elected 
Moderator of the English Presbyterian Synod. 
He wrote several popular theological works, 
and was a neighbour and intimate friend of 
Thomas Carlyle. He died 6th February, 1872. 
(Norrie's " Dundee Celebrities.") A good story 
is told of him and Carlyle. One day, having 
bored the philosopher greatly during a walk 
through London, Carlyle suddenly stopped short 
at a street crossing, and dismissed his com- 
panion saying, " Here we part : you go to the 
left, I go to the right, and if you go to the right, 
I shall to the left." 

64. Beattie, David Alexander (Rev.) : 
Minor Poet Born Arbroath in 1 831, he was 
educated at Edinburgh for the Free Church 
ministry, and was ordained at Towie, Aberdeen- 
shire, in 1858, but translated to Garvald, Had- 
dingtonshire, 1 861, where he still labours. He 
has published a number of verses, among which 
may be named " The Bride of Death," " Songs 
of Life," and " Scenes from the Land of Scott" 
He has also written a poem, in six cantos, on 
" Black Agnes of Dunbar." He contributes to 
the local press occasionally, and figures in 
" Modern Scottish Poets," Vol. XII. 

65. Begg, Peter: "Father of the Dundee 
Free Library." This worthy was bom in 1819 
and died 1885. George Gilfillan gave him the 
name noted above. 

66. Bell, Patrick, LL.D. (Rev.) : Inven- 
tor, etc. This ingenious clergyman was born at 
the farm of Mid Leven, Auchterhouse parish, 
in April, 1799, and died in 1869. His reaping 
machine was one of the first, but not actually 
the first, of its kind, the honour of the first in- 
vention being due to John Common of Denwick 
in 1 8 12, though the first suggestion of such a 
machine is attributed to Capel Loftt in 1785. 
Mr. Bell's machine, which proved simple and 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



187 



eflgcient, appeared in 1826, and continued in 
use for many years, and several of its features 
reappear in present-day machines. Dr. Bell 
was translated to Carmylie in 1843, ^^^ some 
time before his death he received a public \ 
testimonial from agriculturists in consideration 
of the service his invention had rendered to 
agriculture. 

67. Balmyle or Balmule, Nicholas de: 
Chancellor of Scotland, and Bishop of Dun- 
blane. Educated as clerk in the Abbey of 
Aberbrothock ; held chancellorship from 1301 
till probably 1307, when he was appointed to 
the bishopric of Dunblane. His name does not 
appear in any official document later than 131 3, 
and he is reported to have died in 13 19 or 1320. 
(" Dictionary of National Biography," Vol. III.) 

68. Bennett, David : Engineer and Labour 
Leader. A native of Dundee, born in 1830, he 
learned engineering in his native town, but 
emigrated to Australia, and settled in Melbourne 
in 1 856. For many years he was employed in 
Long lands Foundry, and was known as a 
stalwart champion of the rights of labour. He 
took an active part in favour of the Eight Hours 
Movement in Australia, and was Secretary of 
the Association of Engineers for twenty years. 
One of the founders of the Trades Hall, he was 
long hon. secretary of the Trades Hall Council, 
and its paid secretary after 1888. I have no 
later note concerning him. 

69. Birrell, Mary : Minor Poet. Born 
presumably in Dundee, she published in 1871 a 
booklet entitled "The Rifle Volunteers, and 
other Poems." 

70. Birrell, Wm. Dundas : Minor Poet. 
Bom about 1868 at LifT, near Dundee, the son 
of a publican, he figures in the 14th volume of 
" Modem Scottish Poets." 

71. Birse, David : Minor Poet A native 
of Brechin, and a friend of the poet Alexander 
Laing. A MS. volume of verse by him is in the 
Mitchell Library, Glasgow. He is biographed 
in ^ Bards of Angus and the Meams.'' He 
flourished in 1819, when the MS. is dated. 

72. BissETT, Thomas : one of Dundee's 
eccentrics. He was a gravestone cutter in 
Dundee, an excellent workman, but a confirmed 
drunkard. He died alone in his house in the 
Seagate, 19th Mav, 1829, aker a drunken spree. 
In anticipation of his end, he had prepared for 
himself the following epitaph : — 



Here lies Thomas Bisset, who often did quiz it 

Either when sober or drunk ; 
Ae day, o*er a bottle, the deil dang his dottle, 

An' Death cam* and put oot his spunk. 

73. Black, David Dakers : Local His- 
torian. He was bom in Brechin in 1801, became 
town clerk of his native town, as well as £%ctor 
to Lord Panmure, in both of which capacities 
he was much respected. He published m 1S38 
a " History of Brechin," which was reissued in 
1867, and the history brought up to date. The 
book is a good specimen of local histories. Mr. 
Black was dead before 1882. 

74. Bl.\ck, James: Local Benefactor. This 
good man built at his own expense, and partly 
with his own hands, the bridge of Gannochie. 
He was born in 1677, and died in 1750, leaving 
most of his means for charities. The inscrip- 
tion on his tombstone reads : — " James Black, 
born at Mill of Lethnot, dy*d Oct. 24, 1750, at 
Wood of Dalbog. Chiefly built the Bridge of 
Gannochie, and doted for the support of it 50 
merks Scots : Besides 1,000 meiks for other 
Bridges and pious uses : viz. 500 merks for a 
Schoolmr at Tillibardir : and 300 merks toward 
building a Bridge at Balrownie, with 200 merks 
to the poor of Fettercaim. 

'* No Bridge on Earth can be a Pass for Heaven, 
To generous deeds Let yet due Praise be given. 

— ** Memento, 1746, Moir.'' 

75. Blair, David, J.P. : born in Brechin 
1750, died 1836. Son of a minister, he went to 
Dundee at an early age, and engaged in business 
there. By industry, ability, and perseverance 
he rose to a high position among Dundee 
merchants. For many years he acted as stamp 
master. An .ictive magistrate, he took deep 
interest in all local and charitable institutions, 
and was one of the originators of the Lunatic 
Asylum. He died 24th December, 1836. See 
Norrie's " Dundee Celebrities." 

76. Blair, Patrick, M.D.: Scottish Botan- 
ist. Bom in Scotland towards the close of the 
17th century, probably in Dundee. He practised 
medicine there, and was known as a skilful 
anatomist. A nonjuror, he was imprisoned in 
171 5. He subsequently went to London, and 
became known to the Royal Society by papers 
he read on the sexes of flowers. He afterwards 
settled at Boston, in Lincolnshire, and seems to 
have died there about 1729. He published 
"Observations on Physic, Anatomy, Surgery, 
and Botany," in 17 18; "Botanic Essays,*' in 



i88 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[June, 1907 



1720 ; and his " Pharmaco-Botanologia," in 
1723-8. He also read many papers to the Royal 
Society on anatomical and botanical subjects. 

77. I5LYTH, David : Minor Poet. He was 
born in i8io in Dundee ; at the age of 16 entered 
the merchant navy, and made numerous voyages. 
Having received a liberal education, he soon 
rose from the ranks. Failing health compelled 
him to leave the sea, and he died in 1838. In 
1879 a selection of his poems, entitled "The 
Pirate Ship, and other Poems," was published. 
The volume, which was a handsome one, con- 
tained poems and songs by other members of 
the lilyth family, which showed that they were 
a very poetic family. See Edwards's " Modern 
Scottish Poets," Vol. I. 

78. BOECE, OR BOYCE, ARTHUR : Lawyer 
and Judge, etc. Floniii 1535. He was brother 
of No. 'J']. A native of Angus, possibly born in 
Panbride or Dundee. He was a doctor of 
Canon Law, a licentiate in Civil Law, and held 
the office of Professor of Canon Law in King's 
College while Hector was Principal. He pub- 
lished a book of excerpts from the Canon Law, 
and was a Scottish Judge. 

79. BOECE, OR BOYCE, HECTOR : Scholar 
and Author. Principal of King's College, Aber- 
deen. Bom 1465 or 1470, educated at Paris, 
where he became Professor of Philosophy, he 
was appointed the first Principal of King's 
College, Aberdeen, and had a large part in 
organising that institution. His fame chiefly 
rests on his Latin History of Scotland, which 
was translated and published by the Scottish 
Hist. Society. He died 1536. For notice see 
Scottish Notes and Queries^ IX., 81; X., 51. 

Dollar. W. B. R. Wilson. 

(To be continued. ) 

* 



Gavin Turreff : Antiquary and Author. 
-In the May issue I observe "Alba" making 
reference to this painstaking antiquary, and I 
find that our esteemed contributor, "W.B.R.W.," 
makes no reference to his death (ist S., XII., 
118). He is buried in St. Nicholas Churchyard, 
Aberdeen, where a handsome granite obelisk 
bears the following inscription: — '*Gavin Turreff, 
M.A. I Born 18 September, 1803 | Died 20 
December, 1878. | Author of | "Antiquarian 
Gleanings " | for 40 years a faithful | servant of 
the Aberdeen Bank | and Union Bank of 
Scotland | in Aberdeen | Erected by friends j 
in remembrance of his Christian | character and 
sterling worth." ROBERT MURDOCH. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ABERDEEN 

PERIODICALS. 
(Continued from 2nd S., VIII., p. I24.) 



1852. The Chameleon (ist S., I., 73; IX., 104; 
2nd S., VI., 76). The following is an extract from 
The Evening Express, 2nd May, 1905 : — '* To the 
older generation of Aberdonians, the name of John 
Spark, whose death occurred a few days ago, will 
recall a type of free lance literature that has now 
almost ceased to exist. The announcement of a 
Chameleon from the pen of John Spark was invariably 
looked forward to with intense interest, and, taken 
all over, not even those who got special mention in 
its pages were inclined to cry out. The humoui 
may have been occasionally broad, and the satire 
stinging, but there was invariably an under stratum 
of truth that saved the situation. As John's know* 
ledge of public men and public affairs was both 
extensive and accurate, he was never at a loss for 
material when a call was made upon his pen, and 
on not a few occasions John Spark brightened up 
the somewhat sombre life of the town." The last 
two issues already mentioned, viz., XXV. and XXVI., 
were printed by James Blair, 1 1 St. Nicholas Street, 
Aberdeen. 

1905. The Bon-Accord Buyer^s Guide: Aber- 
deen's Monthly Maga'^ine (2nd S., VIII., 123). 
This advertising monthly ran to No. 12, October, 
1906, when the following intimation appeared : — 
" We wish to inform our readers of certain changes 
that we are about to make, beginning with our 
November number. In the first place, we shall 
appear in a greatly enlarged and improved form. 
We shall cease to be the Bon- Accord Buyer^s Guide, 
and we shall make our bow to our readers as The 
North Magazine." The Buyer s Guide, so runs the 
notice, was so successful that the proprietor, Mr. 
David Balloch, offered so much more in its new 
form, and it was taken for granted that readers 
would be ready to pay " the nimble penny." 



1906. The North Magazine (late The Bon-Accord 
Buyer's Guide). Vol. II., No. 13; November, 1906. 
Price id. Size 4to, 9i x 7 J, 20 pp. , double-columned, 
covers additional. Imprint at the foot of the last 
page of the cover : ** Printed and published monthly 
by the Proprietor, David Balloch, of 154 Union 
Street, Aberdeen, Scotland. Subscription, is. 6d. 
per annum, post free. 

The contents include brief and bright comments 
on loc&l events, brought down to within a day or 
two of publication on the first day of each month, 
short, racy articles, numerous business advertise- 
ments, also, the same popular features of its pre- 
decessor. 

1907. Lindsay's Hiecord Time Tables. Sire, 
demy i8mo; price id. monthly. Published by 
W. & W. Lindsay, Market Street, Aberdeen. 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



1 89 



The first issue of these time tables, which appeared 
January, 1907, is got up in quite a different plan 
from others, and is unique in its way. It opens 
directly from the centre. Each page is larger than 
its neighbour, with the routes struck out in a heaxy 
black heading, thus enabling the travelling public to 
alight upon the information required at a glance. It 
contains the usual information found in all time 
tables in connection with transit outside and within 
the city ; a £100 free insurance policy, and a large 
percentage of local advertisements. 



Bibliography of Aberdeen Periodicals 
(continued from 2nd S., VIII., 124). — I have 
lately found an imperfect copy of the first 
number of a periodical which, I think, has as 
yet escaped notice. It is entitled T/ie Northern 
Gaderlunzie Budget, and was published on 
Thursday, 21st March, 1844, price one penny. 
It consists of 8 pages 8vo, and is described as 
" Under the auspices of the Bon- Accord Gaber- 
lunzie Club." The imprint reads : " Published 
for the Gaberlunzie Club, And sold by C. 
COCKERILI^ 224 George Street ; Watson, 
Gallowgate : at 5 Flourmill Brae ; by Glass, 
WooDsiDE; and Knight, Old Aberdeen.'* The 
number ends with the following note: "The 
Budget, No. II., much improved in variety and 
arrangement, will appear this day fortnight." 
Can any reader say what the Oaberlunzie Club 
was, and whether any numbers of The Budget 
besides the first ever appeared ? W. J. 



answers. 



d^ueries. 

859. Sir James Livingston. — Who was Sir 
James Livingston, temp., 1742, in which year he had 
a son studying at Leyden ? H. D. McW. 

860. Shank House, near Edinburgh. — In what 
parish is this house situate, and who is the present 



owner 



H. D. McW. 



861. Sir Alexander Ramsay. — Who was Sir 
Alexander Ramsay, temf>., 1736? He appears to 
have had bursaries at Edinburgh in his gift. 

H. D. McW. 

862: Latervandeck. — Peter Grant and his wife, 
Helen Grant, had a son 'called John, born at Later- 
vandeck, 22nd August, 1762. Where is Latervan- 
deck ? Is it an old spelling of Lochtervandeck, in 
Glenrinncs? M. G. 

863. Nineteen Years' Leases.— I shall be glad 
of any information as to the origin of this term of 
leasing farms. A. M. 

Durris. 



259. The Gordons op Manar (2nd S., IV., 141, 
158-; v., no; VI., 12). — Mr. J. Malcolm Bulloch 
may note that a tablestone in St. Nicholas Church- 
yard, adjacent to John Gordon of Murtle and Francis 
Gordon of Craig's tombstones is inscribed: — " Sacred 
to the memory of Hugh Gordon, Esq., of Manar, 
who died nth July, 1834, aged 68, and of his youngest 
son, William, who died 27th April, 1834, aged 15, 
also of his widow, Elizabeth Forbes, who died loth 
February, 1870, aged 85 years." The writer hopes 
that Mr. A. M. Munro will complete his articles on 
St. Nicholas Churchyard epitaphs in extenso at an 
early date, as many are scarcely decipherable and 
time will work havoc with those that have been 
spared to us. 

Robert Murdoch. 

347. English County Anthology (2nd S., V., 
62, 79, 94» no, 124, 142, 157, 174 ; VI., 12, 30 ; VII., 
79, 94; VIII., 94, 173). — Add: — A Garland j of | 
County Song 1 English Song | English Folk Songs 
I with their Traditional Melodies [ Collected and 
Arranged by | S. Baring-Gould | and | H.Fleetwood 
Sheppard | Metheun & Co., | 36 Essex Street, W.C. 
I London | 1895 | xi. + n2pp., 4to. [Contains fifty 
songs.] 

English Folk Songs | for Schools. | Collected and 
Arranged by | S. Baring-Gould, M.A. | and | Cecil 
J. Sharp, B.A. | London : | J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd.. 
24 Berners Street, W. | iv. -1- 105 pp., n.d. [Dedicated 
by Permission to their | Royal Highness Prince 
Edward | and Albert of Wales.] 

Folk Songs from Somerset | Gathered and edited 
with piano accompaniment | by | Cecil J. Sharp { 
and I Rev. C. L. Marson | First and Second Series. 
Simpkin, Marshall & Co. Schott & Co. 

Folk Songs I from Somerset | With Pianoforte 
Accompaniments | and introduction | and notes. 
Third Series | London : | Simpkin & Co., Ltd. 
Schott & Co. I Taunton : | Barnicott & Pearce, 
Athenaeum Press. | MCMVI. 

The above songs are according to the sub- title, 
gathered and edited by Cecil J. Sharp and Charles 
L. Marson, Vicar of Hambridge. Dedicated by 
Permission | to Her Royal Highness | The Princess 
of Wales. Barnicott & Pearce, Printers. 82 pp. 

Sussex Songs. | Popular Songs of Sussex | arranged 
by I H. F. Birch Reynardson | London : | Stanley 
Lucas, Weber, & Co., | 84 New Bond Street, and 
325 Oxford Street, W. 410, 48 pp. n.d. 

[Contains twenty-six songs.] 

The above-mentioned books are in the possession 
of Mr. Gavin Greig, M.A., an exponent and authority 
on folk song of the north-east of Scotland. 

Robert Murdoch. 

81X. Longmore Family (2nd S., VIII., 126).— 
A tablestone close to the Back Wynd entrance to St. 
Nicholas Churchyard is inscribed :— *' To the Memory 



190 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[June, 1907 



I of I Helen Longmore, | wife of | Lieutenant John 
Emslie, | 83rd Regiment, | who died 30th April, 1812, 

I aged 29 years, | also their eldest daughter, | Mary, 
who died 19th December, | 1819, aged 16 years, 
John Emslie, | late Captain 83rd Regiment, Foot ; 
died at Aberdeen, | 24th Tuly, 1844, aged 68 years, 
and was interred here, | also his daughter Jane, | died 
5th August 1865, aged 56 years. | Alexander Leith 
Emslie, M.D. | only son of Captain Emslie, | died at 
Auchtermuchty 14th March 1854, | aged 48 years." 
The above Helen Longmore is probably a relative 
6i James Longmore mentioned in query. 

Robert Murdoch. 

8x8. Caddell, alias MacPherson (2nd S.,Vin., 
126). — "Alexander Leslie, first laird of Kininvie, 
second son of George Leslie, married Marian Calder, 
daughter of Alexander Calder or McPherson of 
Napferson," from *' The Historical Records of the 
Family of Leslie," Vol. IIL, page 346. 

M. G. 

823. Cardno Family (2nd S., VHL, 141). — 
Cardno is a modern form of the Gaelic word 
" Carnach," meaning abounding in Cairns. The d 
is an insertion, not so much for euphonic purposes — 
for it is seldom sounded— as to vary a place or 
personal name from its simplest form. Many places 
in 'Scotland abound or did once abovnd in cairns. 
Some places on the brows of the sunny side of hills 
have many cairns. They evidently had been made 
by gathering stones off the surface of the ground to 
let grass for sheep grow early in spring when it is 
scarce and much needed. Other cairns are seen 
near the junction of two Highland glens. It is 
customary at funerals to invite people from one glen 
to meet a funeral party coming aown and then to help 
to carry the coffin of a friend a mile or two. They 
have sometimes to wait for the arrival of the cofBn, 
and they employ this interval in building a small 
Memorial Cairn. In some places now cultivated 
the ground was once so encumbered with blocks of 
stone, transported by moving ice, that it could not be 
ploughed or harrowed till they were gathered into 
heaps. At Memsie, near Fraserburgh, there are two 
large cairns, perhaps 90 feet in diameter, which may 
have been tribal burying places, though they were 
probably added to by stones from the neighbouring 
fields. Any such places would be called '* Carnach" 
in Gaelic. *'Ach" at the end of a Gaelic word 
often becomes o in Scotch. Aberlemnach has 
become Aberlemno. Other forms of Cardno are 
Car no, Carne, Cardeny, Cardney, and the Aberdeen 
Cardenhaugh may be Carnach slightly changed 
to make it a name with a meaning intelligible to 
Scotsmen. They are all originally place names, 
which have been eiven to persons living near the 
Cairns, and so made personal names. 

John Milne, LL.D. 

829. Patrick Grant, Lord Elchies (2nd S., 
VIII., 142.— **H. D. McW.*' stated that enquiry in 
likely places in Edinburgh has proved fruitless in 



discovering a portrait of the above. What may be 
considered likely places is doubtful. The W.S. 
Library would occur to one as a likely place, s^nd if 
I mistake not a portrait has hung on the walls there 
for years. J. McG. 

832. The Word « Pony" (2nd S., VIL, 156).— 
A somewhat earlier use of the word than in the 
passage cited by Dr. Murray occurs in the first 
stanza of " Hallow Fair,'* generally attributed to 
Francis Sempill, of Beltrees : — 

*' Maggie sae brawly was buskit, 
When Jockie was tied to his bride. 

The pownie was ne'er better whiskit 
Wi* a cudgel that hung by his side." 

With considerable probability, Mr. Eyre Todd con- 
jectures that the poem was composed by Sempill, 
previous to his marriage in 1655. The words quoted 
above are sometimes— but wrongly — ascribed to 
Fergusson, who also wrote a poem entitled '* Hallow 
Fair." In Lydgate's verses "On the Prospect of 
Peace," the phrase "A poleyn steede" is used, 
meaning possibly *'a young steed," and perhaps 
tending to confirm Dr. Murray's view of the deriva- 
tion of the word **pony." Lydgate, it may be 
mentioned, died circa 1451. A contributor to Notes 
and Queries^ June, 1883, mentions "pony" as 
finding a place in Bailey's " Dictionary,*' 1736 
edition. There is, however, a reference earlier than 
that year. In Boyer's *• French-English Dictionary** 
edition for 1729, the word is given as the English 
equivalent of the French bidet. Possibly it may be 
found in the ist (London) edition as well, published in 
1699. It is, perhaps, worthy of mention that in some 
early French dictionaries the alternative meaning for 
" pony " is ** a little Scotch horse." Allan Ramsay, 
in the second canto of '* Christ's Kirk on the Green " 
(written in continuation of King James's poem of 
the same hame) has the following delectable lines : — 

** The lasses babb'd about the reel, 

Gar'd a' their hurdies wallop, 
And swat like pownies whan they speel 

Up braes, or whan they gallop. " 

The canto was written, the author states, in 1715. 
Two lines of inquiry about the use of the word look 
distinctly promising — (i) when Robert the Bruce nvet 
and overthrew Sir Henry de Bohun at Bannockburn 
in 13 14, he is said to have been mounted on a pony. 
Barbour calls it "a litill palfray." Was Sir Waller 
Scott, writing his " History" about 1828, the first to 
transform palfrey into pony ? (2) Boece's •• History 
of the Scots" includes in one of its chapters a 
description of the Orkney Isles, quoted in Professor 
Hume Brown's •* Scotland before 1700." A unta- 
Using entry in the index to the Professor's book 
about " Ponies of Orkney," and referring to Boece's 
description, leads the reader to anticipate that the 
word ** pony" may have been as early as the age of 
Hector Boece. On turning to the passage, however, 
the words the historian actually uses are found to be 



Vol. VIII. 2nd Series.] SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



191 



" Their hors ar litill mair than asinis." At the same 
time the skeltie or Shetland pony — of which the 
Orkney animal was probably a variety — has lone been 
known under that name. What author before 
Edmonston, whose *' Account of Zetland" was pub- 
lished in 1809, has mentioned the Shetland pony ? 
Let me refer to a recently published work, " Ponies: 
Past and Present," by Sir Walter Gilby, containing 
an account of the Exmoor,*New Forest, Welsh, 
Shetland and many other varieties of the pony, as 
likely to furnish information concerning the earliest 
use of the word. The book was published by Vinton 
and Co., some live or six years ago. 

W. S. 

833. The Cummings of Culter (2nd S., VIII., 
157). — Grace Helen Gumming, daughter of Robert 
Stewart Gumming of Gulter, married Victor Garreau, 
barrister-at-law, in 185 1. Her husband died in 1867. 
Debrett asserts that Robert Stewart Gumming never 
assumed the baronetcy, but that his son, Sir Ken- 
neth William Gumming, did so on his father's death 
in 1847. G. H. 

834. Scots Episcopacy (2nd S., VIU., 157).— 
George John Robert Gordon of Ellon, eldest son of 
Alexander Gordon of Ellon, was born in 1812, 
married Rosa Justina, daughter of William Young 
of Rio de Janeiro, in 1843, and succeeded his father 
in 1873. Although not *• laird of Ellon" in 1852, 
there can hardly be a doubt that he was the "G.J. R. 
Gordon " of the query. He was at one time Envoy 
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Wur- 
temberg. G. H. 

835. Miss Gordon, Rubv Gottage (2nd S., 
VIII., 157). — In 1852 a Miss Lucy Gordon resided 
at 9 Golden Square, Aberdeen. Perhaps she may 
be the lady inquired after. J. F. M. 

836. "The Standard Habbie" (2nd S., VIII., 
i57)._» Alba," '• W. B. R. W.," and " W. S." will 
find a complete account of this stanza in "The 
Centenary Burns," edited by Henley and Henderson. 

G. W. 

840. HuNTLY IN Bombay (2nd S., VIII., 158). — 
In an old East Indian Gazetteer it is stated that 
European residents in Bombay, about eighty or 
ninety years ago, were fond of building themselves 
bungalows outside the city, and residing in them 
with their families. The name, Huntly Lodge, 
suggests such a residence, built and probably so 
called by some person belonging to the family of 
Gordon. Who he was it may now be impossible to 
determine, but at the time mentioned in the query 
there were, at least, three Gordons on the Bombay 
Medical Establishment, one of whom may con- 
ceivably have erected a " Huntly Lodge" in memory 
of the home land. I give the names as they appear 
in "An Alphabetical List of Bombay Surgeons," 
extending from 1764 to 1838: — (i) Alexander Gordon, 
Assistant Surgeon, 1805; Surgeon, z8i8; died at 



Sattarah, i8ig. (2) George Gordon, Assistant Sur- 
geon, 1808 ; Surgeon, i8ig ; Head Surgeon, 1828 ; 
died in England, 1832. (3) John Gordon, Assistant 
Surgeon, 1819 ; died at Zoar, 1821. 

J. H. 

843. William Aikman (2nd S., VII., 172).— 
There is no doubt possible regarding the fact that 
William Aikman was a cadet of the important fftmily 
of the Aikmans of Gairnie, near Arbroath, Forfar- 
shire. In Mr. J. M. McBain's interesting volume, 
" Eminent Arbroathians," a very fiill account of this 
family is given ; also a sketch of the career of its 
last representative, William Aikman, and a note 
pointing out the mistake made by Ghambers and the 
" Encyclopedia Britannica," which has bothered 
" A.M.," and many others that I could name. 

Alan Reid. 



In reply to the query by "A. M." last month, it 
may be stated that there is in the Abbey Ghurchyard, 
Arbroath, a flat red sandstone slab, with the frag- 
ment of an inscription: "Hoc est tumulus Aik« 
manorum Lordbumae," the date whereon is supposed 
to be 1560. The Aikmans of Lordburn and Cairnie 
held these lands for centuries; and in a MS. book 
by William Aikman of Gairnie, dated 1700, there is 
a local tradition that the first of the Aikmans in the 
district was an English goldsmith, brought by 
William the Lion for the purpose of doing gold and 
silver work in connection with the abbey. In the 
same book it is stated that "in the churchyard of 
this town there is a burial place belonging to them, 
built after the manner of a chest, vaulted and asseler 
work within, with this inscription on the top in very 
ancient characters, lately revised by John Aikman 
of Gairnie — ' Hie jacet antiqua Aikmanor de Lord- 
burn familia,' in which there is reported to have 
been laid ten John Aikmans of this family successive 
without interruption, whereof the late John Aikman 
of Gairnie was the lasL" In the chapter house of 
the abbey, there is a monumental brass inscribed— 
"To perpetuate the memory of my ancestors, the 
Aikmans of Lordburn and Gairnie, this tablet is 
placed in the Abbey of Aberbrothwick, on the stones 
that covered the resting-place in the Abbey grounds 
of ten John Aikmans, the last of whom was born 
1 613, and died 1693. He was designated the Gude 
Laird o' Gairnie. His eldest son, William Aikman, 
was an eminent advocate and Sheriff of Forfarshire. 
He succeeded to Gairnie, and died 1699, and was 
buried in the Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. He 
was succeeded by his only son, William Aikman, 
the celebrated historical painter of Scotland, who 
sold Gairnie in 1707. He was born 1682, and died 
in 1731, and with his only son, John, rests in the 
Greyfriars Kirkyard^ Edinburgh. Thomas Aikman, 
the second son of the Gude Laird o* Gairnie, was a 
lawyer of eminence, and Keeper of the Records of 
Scotland. He bought the lands of Ross and Broomel- 
ton, Hamilton, Lanarkshire. Here the representa- 
tive of the Aikman family now resides. The Abbey 
was visited by me, my wife, and eldest son, Thomas 



kWFfiata 



192 



SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES 



[June, 1907 



S. G. H. R. Aikmah, on the loth anniversary of our 
marriage, the 21st September, 1868, and this tablet 
was presented to the Town by me, the great-great- 
great-great grandson of the Gude Laird o' Cairnie, 
in affectionate remembrance of the Aikmans of 
Lordburn and Cairnie, who resided in and near 
Arbroath for many centuries. Hugh Henry Robert- 
son Aikman, Ross House, Jan. xst, 1869." 

J. E. Leighton. 
Goodyburn, Perth. 

854. The Dean (or Den) (2nd S., VIH., 173).— 
is the name by which the valley of the Water of Leith, 
now within the city boundary of Edinburgh, is known. 
There was a house of Dean, as also a village of 
Dean, and the Dean Bridge, one of Telford's master 
works, is one of the sights of the metropolis. I 
cannot trace Patrick Houston ; but it is well known 
that in 1705, Archibald Houston, a Writer to the 
Signet, and a prominent Edinburgh lawyer, was 
killed at the Cross, by Gilbert Kennedy of Auchty- 
fardel, Lanarkshire. Alan Reid. 



H. D. McW. will find references to the Village of 
Dean, in the Water of Leith, Edinburgh ; to Bon- 
nington, near Leith, and to John's Coffee House in 
Parliament Close, Edinburgh, in "Old and New 
Edmburgh," by James Grant, published by Cassell 
and Co. H. A. P. 

^5. John's Coffee House (2nd S., VUL, 173). 
— Tnis celebrated howff was a great resort of the 
judges and lawyers of the i8th century, and figures 
largely in th^ local lore of the period. Defoe notes 
that the opponents of the Union met here to 
denounce that scheme ; but ** John's" was the head- 
quarters of the disaffected generally, as of several 
early Edinburgh Clubs. It stood near the Courts of 
Law, off the High Street, and at the nor^th-east 
corner of the vanished Parliament Close. 

Alan Reid. 

856. BoNNiNGTON (2ndS., VHL, 173).— The 
name of a populous district lying between Edinburgh 
and Leith. Anciently it was a landed property, 
with a mansion-house which is still represented 
among the older dwellings of the district. Bishop 
Robert Keith, well known as a strenuous upholder of 
Episcopacy by pen and action, resided here in the 
troublous times of Jacobitism. Though the Bishop 
lived in Bonnyhaugh, his own house, at Bonnington 
Village, I think the reference can only apply to him. 
In any case, he was much in correspondence with 
Prince Charlie, and he had the honour of Rob Roy's 
name among the subscribers to his " History of the 
Church and State of Scotland." 

Alan Reid. 

858. Cruden, Author of the Concordance 
(2nd S., VIII., 173). — The story here referred to is 
widely current, and localises itself so variously that 
I hear it is impossible now to associate it with any 
one place or person. It appears, for instance, in D. 



H. Edwards* notes on Edzell, when it fits a Countess 
of Lindsay. Kinghorn also claims it, where the wife 
of the parish minister was the subject of the attempt ; 
and there are other instances of the adaptability of 
this gruesome but popular legend. 

Alan Reid. 



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